NORTHERN IRELAND

Foreign Investment in UK

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what meetings she has had with foreign direct investors in Northern Ireland since her appointment.

Theresa Villiers: I take every opportunity to promote Northern Ireland as a place to do business and grow business whenever I meet potential investors.
	On 10 October, I hosted a dinner at Hillsborough Castle and made a speech to around 120 delegates from a number of G8 countries who were attending the Northern Ireland Investment Conference to discuss investment opportunities in Northern Ireland.
	On 7 November, the Northern Ireland Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Investment and I both spoke to a number of ambassadors and senior diplomats from 16 targeted countries and regions at a Northern Ireland Investment Seminar at Lancaster House that focused on increasing investment and trade opportunities.

Human Trafficking

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of measures in place to tackle human trafficking and modern day slavery in Northern Ireland.

Theresa Villiers: This is an issue of great concern and one on which all parts of the United Kingdom need to work closely together along with the authorities in Dublin and other European capitals. The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking (the IDMG), chaired by the Security Minister, provides strategic leadership in the UK's response to this issue and each of the devolved administrations, including the Northern Ireland Executive, are represented on the IDMG, ensuring that there is an effective, co-ordinated response across the UK.
	Important responsibilities relating to countering human trafficking are devolved. I am advised that, through the Organised Crime Task Force and the Engagement Group on Human Trafficking, the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice has put arrangements in place to ensure an effective multi-agency, partnership approach to tackling human trafficking within Northern Ireland.
	The Northern Ireland Assembly Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill is due to complete its Committee Stage on 12 November. The Bill defines human trafficking and slavery offences, and also contains measures to prevent and combat human trafficking and slavery in Northern Ireland as well as providing assistance and support for victims.

Missing Persons

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland on disappeared persons; and what steps she is taking to locate their remains.

Theresa Villiers: I have regular meetings with the Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland on a range of issues. The British and Irish Governments continue to fund and support the work of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains. I would reiterate their recent call for new information to assist in locating the remains of those who have not yet been recovered.

Northern Ireland Government

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what written submissions she has made to the all-party group chaired by Dr Richard Haass; and if she will publish those submissions.

Theresa Villiers: I have made no submissions to the all-party group.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, (b) 0844 and (c) 0843 her Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls each number has received in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at the BT local rate are available in each case.

Theresa Villiers: My Department operates one telephone line with the prefix 0844 for the purpose of updating staff in the event of an emergency situation. Details of the number of calls to this line are not recorded and no alternative number is available at the BT local rate. My Department does not operate or sponsor any telephone lines with the prefix 0845 or 0843.

Victims

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which victims' groups she has met since her appointment.

Theresa Villiers: I have met with a number of victims groups and their representatives, both formally and informally, since my appointment. Scheduled meetings have included:
	La Mon survivors;
	South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF);
	Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG);
	Foundation4Peace at the Warrington Centre;
	WAVE;
	Ballymurphy Families;
	Amnesty International;
	Derg Valley Victims Voice (DVW);
	Families of the Disappeared.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Egypt

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Egyptian Government regarding the need for a fair trial for former President Mohammed Morsi.

Hugh Robertson: We are concerned by the high number of arrests and charges brought against members of political parties in Egypt. In a statement on 1 August 2013, after speaking to the Egyptian Vice President, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) said
	“I also called for the release of all political detainees, including Dr Morsi, unless there are criminal charges to be made against them, and emphasised that it is vital that any charges are not politically motivated.”
	We continue to press for the release of detainees, and call for the respect of their human rights.
	The trial is a matter for the Egyptian courts but it is important that due process is observed. We are following developments closely.

Iran

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with other Security Council members on Iran's reported contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747.

Hugh Robertson: The United Kingdom is an active member of the UN 1737 Committee, which is tasked with implementing UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) regarding Iran, including UNSCR 1747. The Committee examines reports of alleged violations of the UN sanctions regime and issues regular 90-day reports to the UN Security Council on sanctions implementation—including incidents of potential violations. Ministers regularly discuss Iran sanctions with their international counterparts.

Middle East

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the governments of Yemen and Saudi Arabia on child executions in those countries.

Hugh Robertson: The Government opposes the use of the death penalty against people of all ages. In Yemen, where prosecutions are currently based on confessions and witness statements, the UK is supporting transition to collection and analysis of evidence by organising and funding training in basic forensics and crime scene investigations. In September 2013 the UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council Resolution on Yemen. We regularly lobby the Government of Yemen on human rights issues bilaterally and with our EU partners.
	Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) publicly condemned the execution of Rizana Nafeek in Saudi Arabia in January 2013. He, the then Secretary of State for Justice, the Minister without Portfolio, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), and my right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Warsi raised the death penalty separately with the Saudi Justice Minister when he visited last year and called for the cessation of public beheading. The UK pressed the Saudi Government to implement measures designed to prevent the application of the death penalty for children during Saudi Arabia's recent Universal Periodic Review.

Palestinians

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on how many Palestinians receiving United Nations Relief and Works Agency aid are surviving refugees from 1948.

Alan Duncan: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for International Development.
	The registration of refugees falls under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. DFID does not hold this information.

Palestinians

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Palestinians who were born and live in the West Bank and Gaza are considered by his Department to be refugees.

Hugh Robertson: Under the operational definition used by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Palestine refugees are people whose normal place of residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948, and who lost both their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and their dependents. The descendants of Palestine refugee males are also eligible for registration. Some of those eligible were born and/or live in Gaza and the west bank. UNRWA's mandate has been regularly considered and renewed by the UN General Assembly.
	Palestine refugees are not necessarily refugees as defined by the 1951 UN refugee convention. Those Palestinians receiving UNRWA assistance or protection are ineligible for refugee status under the convention, pursuant to article 1D of the convention. Those Palestinians who have not been assisted or protected by UNRWA must establish, if seeking asylum, that they meet the definition of a refugee in article 1A of the convention.

Russia

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Russian Government in respect of members of Greenpeace held by the authorities in Russia.

David Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 November 2013, Official Report, column 366W.

Syria

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what next steps were agreed with Syria's neighbours following the London 11 meeting in October.

Hugh Robertson: The London 11 countries—which include Syria's neighbours, Turkey and Jordan, as well as other regional actors—agreed on 22 October to throw their full and collective weight behind the UN-led Geneva II process to deliver a political transition in Syria to end the crisis. The communiqué set out a number of next steps, including agreement to urge the Syrian National Coalition to commit fully to the Geneva II process and to provide them, as well as the United Nations and its Special Envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, the intensive political and practical support needed to give the Geneva II process the best chance of success.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, (b) 0844 and (c) 0843 his Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls each number has received in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at the BT local rate are available in each case.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its agencies do not have any 0845, 0844 or 0843 telephone numbers in use for the public. On 22 February 2013 the FCO discontinued the consular travel advice helpline which was handled by a contracted company and was a national rate 0845 number.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) business and (b) tourist visas were issued by the British Embassy in Sana'a, Yemen, in each year since 2005.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	We do not record whether visit visa applicants are ‘tourists’—the visit category covers a number of other routes, including to visit friends or distant family members. The following table shows the statistics for business visa and visit visa applications issued in Sana'a, Yemen from 2005. The visa section in Sana'a was closed in October 2010, so these statistics only cover the period up to that date.
	
		
			 Number issued 
			  Visit Visit—Business 
			 2005 1,449 70 
			 2006 1,088 338 
			 2007 711 348 
			 2008 485 304 
			 2009 382 194 
			 2010 398 107

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to Sir John Chilcot's letter of 4 November 2013 to him, published on the Iraq Inquiry website 
	(1)  if he will disclose to the Iraq Inquiry the 25 notes from the right hon. Tony Blair to President Bush, referred to in that letter; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on which date the Iraq Inquiry requested the Cabinet Secretary to disclose records of conversations between the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and President Bush in the period leading to the conflict in Iraq;
	(3)  if he will disclose to the Iraq Inquiry records of conversations between (a) the right hon. Tony Blair and President Bush and (b) the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and President Bush referred to in that letter;
	(4)  if he will disclose to the Iraq Inquiry the material relating to some 200 Cabinet-level discussions referred to in that letter;
	(5)  on which date the Iraq Inquiry requested the Cabinet Secretary to disclose records of conversations between the right hon. Tony Blair and President Bush in the period leading to the conflict in Iraq.

David Cameron: The Inquiry Committee has had full access to all documents relevant to its work, including records of Cabinet level discussions and notes and records of discussions between Mr Blair, the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown), and President Bush.

JUSTICE

Crime: West Midlands

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the overall number of crime levels for the West Mercia Police Force was in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	The table shows the total number of offences recorded by the West Mercia police force for each year from 2008-09 to 2012-13. These numbers exclude fraud, to allow for a consistent comparison between years.
	
		
			 Total offences (excluding fraud) in the West Mercia police force area, 2008-09 to 2012-13 
			  Total offences 
			 2006-09 75,494 
			 2009-10 68,868 
			 2010-11 69,648 
			 2011-12 66,963 
			 2012-13 58,769 
			 Note: Due to the staggered move of recording fraud offences try forces to Action Fraud, crime numbers are shown excluding fraud offences to allow for consistent comparisons.

Domestic Violence

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents of domestic violence were reported to the police in each year since 2010; and how many of these incidents resulted in (a) referral to the Crown Prosecution Service, (b) a prosecution and (c) a conviction in each such year.

Oliver Heald: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not possible to identify domestic violence cases from the recorded crime figures returned to the Home Office by police forces as these figures are based on counts of crime under the appropriate offence classification (e.g. GBH, ABH) and there are no details on the offender-victim relationship.
	The records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) identify the number of suspects referred to it for a charging decision, the number of defendants prosecuted and the outcome of the prosecution, in cases identified and flagged as domestic violence. The CPS does not collect data showing the number of incidents of domestic violence reported to the police.
	The CPS defines domestic violence as any threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between those who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. Family members include mother, father, son, daughter, sister and grandparents, whether directly related, in laws or step family.
	The number of suspects referred to the CPS, for a charging decision since January 2010, for allegations of domestic violence was as follows:
	
		
			 Pre-charge decision 
			  Number 
			 2010 100,457 
			 2011 97,638 
			 2012 88,200 
			 January to September 2013 73,036 
		
	
	In the same period, the numbers of defendants prosecuted by the CPS, and convicted of offences involving domestic violence, was as follows:
	
		
			  Prosecutions (number) Convictions (number) Percentage of convictions (%) 
			 2010 81,150 58,257 71.8 
			 2011 79,952 58,309 72.9 
			 2012 72,565 54,033 74.5 
			 January to September 2013 55,763 41,583 74.6

European Supervision Orders

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment she has made of the benefits to the UK of the European Supervision Order; and if she will make a statement.

Shailesh Vara: On 9 July 2013 the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) announced to Parliament that the Government intended to exercise the UK's opt-out under the Lisbon treaty and seek to rejoin a package of 35 police and criminal justice measures which are in the UK's national interest. Following debates and votes in both Houses of Parliament the Prime Minister wrote to the President of the Council of Ministers on 24 July 2013 to provide formal notification that the Government has decided to exercise its right, provided for by Article 10(4) of Protocol 36 to the Treaties, to opt out of all pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures.
	The Government has committed to providing Parliament with an Impact Assessment on the final list of measures that the UK will apply to rejoin. This will be done in good time ahead of the second vote on this matter and contain all relevant information.

Immigration: Appeals

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many decisions subject to an appeal to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the First-tier tribunal have been withdrawn by the Home Department within five days of the appeal date in each of the last five years.

Shailesh Vara: The First-tier Tribunal—Immigration and Asylum Chamber (IAC), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against the Home Office relating to a range of immigration, asylum. and nationality decisions.
	HMCTS does not collate centrally the information requested on appeals withdrawn by the Home Office. While data are held on withdrawal numbers, published here,
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics
	it is not broken down on the basis of which party withdrew the appeal. To collate the information would mean the examination of each of those electronic records, which would be at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Education

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding his Department has allocated for (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 on each of the contracts to deliver education services in prisons in England and Wales.

Matthew Hancock: I am replying as Minister responsible for prison education in England.
	I have asked the interim chief executive of Skills Funding to write to the hon. Member with details of funding allocated to prison education contracts in England, and I will place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.
	In Wales, education in the public sector prisons is delivered through funding from the Welsh Government.

Prisons: Health Services

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  when each of the contracts between his Department and the organisations that provide healthcare provision in prisons in England and Wales was signed;
	(2)  which organisations provide healthcare provision to each prison in England and Wales;
	(3)  when each of the contracts between his Department and providers of healthcare provision in prisons in England and Wales terminate;
	(4)  how much his Department spent in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 on each of the contracts to deliver healthcare provision in prisons in England and Wales.

Norman Lamb: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	Since 1 April 2013, NHS England has commissioned health care in all publically-run prisons in England. Commissioning is discharged by NHS England through a national structure, comprising four regional and 27 area teams (ATs). 10 ATs are designated to undertake health care commissioning across the entire public prison estate in England. Health care in any individual prison may be provided by several contractors, including national health service, private and voluntary sector organisations but this information is not collected centrally by NHS England.
	We are informed by NHS England that data are not collected centrally on starting and end dates of provider contracts. NHS England collects data on central funding allocations made to the 10 ATs which commission prison health care, but not on health care spending in individual prisons, which is determined locally. Data on NHS England's central funding allocations made to the 10 ATs in 2013-14 have been placed in the Library.
	As of July 2013, the following 12 prisons in England were contractually managed by the private sector, with health care services commissioned directly either by the private operator or by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) through NHS or private sector providers: Altcourse; Ashfield; Birmingham; Bronzefield; Doncaster; Dovegate; Forest Bank; Lowdham Grange; Oakwood; Peterborough; Rye Hill; and, Thameside. Information about these prisons is not collected by the Department.
	Prior to 1 April 2013, the Department allocated funding to primary care trusts (PCTs) with prisons in their catchment areas to commission primary health care, mental health and substance misuse services in prisons. Data on spending allocations by the Department to PCTs and on PCT allocations made to individual prisons in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 were collected by the Department and have been placed in the Library.
	Data in respect of Welsh prisons are collected by the Welsh Government.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with police and crime commissioners about funding for rape support centres; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Ministry of Justice's consultation and response papers 'Getting it right for victims and witnesses' outlined the Government's intention on the future commissioning of victim services, including extending the existing coalition commitment to provide sustainable funding for rape support centres via a national fund. The previous Victim's Minister, wrote to PCCs on 29 May 2013 as part of our engagement, outlining the intention for the rape support arrangements beyond 2013-14.
	The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners were informed when we launched our new £4 million per annum Rape Support Fund recently. The fund will commence in April 2014, when the previous fund ends, for two years with the option to extend for a further year. This is a joint commissioning process with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime who are offering an additional £1.26 million per annum which is ring-fenced to fund services across London's four quadrant areas. This does not preclude PCCs providing additional support from the core funding they will receive in 2014-15 for the commissioning of local victims services.

Recruitment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many new staff his Department has employed under (a) fixed-term contracts and (b) short-term contracts since May 2010.

Shailesh Vara: Fixed-term and short fixed-term appointments, which include interns and apprentices, are made in accordance with the rules set out in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code. These appointments enable the Ministry of Justice to respond flexibly to changes in demand for its services. In particular, HM Courts and Tribunals Service has used short-term appointments of less than 12 months during periods of restructuring and business change.
	The numbers of fixed-term and short-term staff contracts awarded in each year by the Ministry of Justice since May 2010 are set out in the following table. It is not possible to identify whether any of the contracts are for the same members of staff.
	
		
			  (a) Fixed-term contracts (b) Short-term contracts Total 
			 May 2010-March 2011 1,075 240 1,315 
			 April 2011-March 2012 516 596 1,112 
			 April 2012-March 2013 247 837 1,084 
			 April 2013 -September 2013 151 832 983 
			 Total 1,989 2,505 4,494

Sunningdale Park

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how often his Department has used Sunningdale Park for Civil Service events since May 2010; what the nature of each such event was; and what the cost of each such event was.

Shailesh Vara: Until the end of March 2012, Sunningdale Park was part of the civil service college, later the national school of Government. Information on how often the Ministry of Justice has used Sunningdale Park for civil service events between May 2010 and March 2012 is not available centrally. It would require a Ministry wide exercise to collect the information. This would incur disproportionate costs.

Support for Victims of Crime

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what support his Department provides to victims of crime.

Damian Green: We currently provide around £50 million of funding for services supporting victims of crime. In future, more money than ever before will be available for victims' services, with a potential budget of up to £100 million. Services will be commissioned locally, by police and crime commissioners, though there will remain some services which will be commissioned nationally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments: Scotland

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2012 were in the (a) mild, (b) moderate, (c) substantial and (d) unclassified severity banding.

James Brokenshire: Of the project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2012, 42% were in the mild, 56% moderate, 1% substantial. The remaining 1% were not allocated to any of these bands.

Antisocial Behaviour

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance that will be issued to (a) under 18s and (b) adults in the first 12 months following their introduction; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the potential change in the length of time from application to issue arising from abolishing anti-social behaviour orders that are issued by magistrates' courts and moving to injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance that will be issued by county courts; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the cost to (a) local authorities and (b) police forces of bringing contempt of court proceedings against persons in breach of injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyances; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: holding answer 8 November 2013
	It will be for frontline professionals to decide when use of the new Injunction to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance (IPNA) is appropriate. However, our impact assessment, published alongside the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill in May, assumes that there will be a 5% increase in the number of injunctions in the first year, compared to the orders it will replace.
	We also assumed in that document that approximately 30% of injunctions would be issued to under 18s, based on the current proportion of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders issued to those in that age group.
	Our published impact assessment assumes that breach proceedings for the IPNA will be similar to the process for the Anti-Social Behaviour injunction. As such, the unit cost of a breach hearing is estimated to be approximately £600 for someone aged over 18 and £700 for someone aged under 18.
	We have assumed that this cost will be the same whether the applicant is a local authority or a police force.
	The lower test and lower civil standard of proof for the new injunction, compared to the anti-social behaviour order on application, means that it will be faster and easier for the police, councils and other frontline professionals to use it.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many breaches of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have resulted in a custodial sentence in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the likely change in the number of custodial sentences caused by the abolition of ASBOs and the introduction of injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance.

Norman Baker: holding answer 8 November 2013
	The total number of occasions on which offenders received an immediate custodial sentence for breaching their antisocial behaviour order in 2010, 2011 and 2012 (latest currently available) is shown in the table. Antisocial behaviour orders can be breached more than once and in more than one year. This table counts all the occasions on which courts imposed sentences of immediate custody for breach of an antisocial behaviour order.
	The breach rate of 58% for antisocial behaviour orders shows that enforcement alone is not effective at stopping antisocial behaviour. Importantly, the new injunction will give the court powers to include positive requirements to address the underlying issues that may be driving an individual's behaviour. That notwithstanding, the injunction will have serious penalties on breach—including imprisonment for adults and, as a last resort, for under-18s.
	
		
			 Total occasions on which offenders received a custodial sentence(1) for breaching their antisocial behaviour order, 2010-12, England and Wales 
			 Final outcome (all courts) 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 Immediate custody(1) 2,281 2,199 2,564 
			 (1) Custodial sentences for breaching an ASBO may have been given concurrently with custodial sentences for other offences of which the person was found guilty. Note: ASBO breach data are compiled by matching records of ASBOs issued with ASBOs breached. The nature of this matching process means that previously published ASBO breach data are subject to minor revision. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Arrest Warrants

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European Arrest Warrants the UK has (a) issued and (b) received in each year from 2004 to 2011.

Mark Harper: holding answer 5 November 2013
	I have been informed by the National Crime Agency (NCA) that the number of European Arrest Warrants (EAW) that they received and issued in each year from 2004 to 2011 was:
	
		
			  Number of EAWs issued Number of EAWs received 
			 2004 96 1,865 
			 2005 131 5,986 
			 2006 126 5,020 
			 2007 198 2,280 
			 2008 218 3,307 
			 2009 246 3,826 
			 2010 252 4,369 
			 2011 226 6,512

Asylum

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2013, Official Report, column 642W, on asylum, what the total number of complaints made against the Commercial and Operational Managers Procuring Asylum Support Service project was.

Mark Harper: holding answer 11 November 2013
	The total number of complaints made against the Commercial and Operational Managers Procuring Asylum Support Service project in the period January 2013 to June 2013 was 309.

Asylum: Females

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many applications for asylum were made by women fleeing sexual violence or genital mutilation from each country of origin in each year since 2005; and how many such applications (a) have been granted, (b) have been rejected, (c) were withdrawn and (d) remain unconcluded;
	(2)  what guidance is given to UK Border Agency staff on the treatment of women seeking asylum on the grounds that they are fleeing sexual violence or genital mutilation.

Mark Harper: Statistics are recorded and published on the number of applications for asylum and they are disaggregated by gender. However information on the basis of claim for asylum is not routinely recorded, and the information requested could only be obtained through a manual search of individual case files. To do this would incur disproportionate cost.
	All asylum case workers received dedicated and mandatory training on gender issues and have specific guidance on managing gender related asylum claims. This includes guidance on considering claims with regards to persecution which is gender-specific or predominantly gender-specific, including sexual violence and genital mutilation. Each claim is considered on its own merits in the light of country of origin information and guidance.

Asylum: Females

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female asylum seekers have been deported back to countries where female genital mutilation is (a) legal or (b) illegal but widely practised in each year since 2005.

Mark Harper: The list of 29 countries across Africa and the middle east where female genital mutilation (FGM) is prevalent is taken from the UNICEF report found at:
	http://www.childinfo.org/files/FGCM_Lo_res.pdf
	24 of those countries have enacted decrees or legislated against FGM but the law is often not enforced. It is believed that FGM is practised all over the world including western countries that have migrant communities.
	The number of women returned to countries where FGM is known to be prevalent is shown in the following table.
	The UNICEF paper ‘Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting’ provides a statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change, and draws on “... 70 nationally representative surveys over a 20-year period” and presents the most comprehensive compilation to date of statistics and analyses on FGM/C. The report identifies 29 countries in Africa and the middle east where FGM/C is most prevalent.
	The table lists the 29 countries referred to above, prevalence and where legislation/decrees have been put in place to prevent FGM/C and numbers of removals per year.
	
		
			 Country and prevalence (%) FGM/C prohibited by law/decree* 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Benin (13%) Benin 2003 3 — — — 1 2 — — 
			 Burkina Faso (76%) Burkina Faso 1996 — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Cameroon (1%)  1 3 49 20 16 9 10 9 
			 Central African Republic (24%) Central African Republic 1966, 1996* — 3 — 2 — — — — 
			 Chad (44%) Chad 2003 1 1 — — — — — — 
			 Cote d'Ivoire (38%) Cote d’Ivoire 1998 — — 2 7 4 — 1 3 
			 Djibouti (93%) Djibouti 1995, 2009* — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Egypt (91%) Egypt 2008 7 5 4 4 9 — 1 9 
			 Eritrea (89%) Eritrea 2007 1 1 2 — — — — — 
			 Ethiopia (74%) Ethiopia 2004 2 10 10 11 7 5 3 3 
			 Gambia (76%) — 2 12 14 13 11 6 5 15 
			 Ghana (4%) Ghana 1994, 2007* 62 37 26 27 22 17 23 15 
			 Guinea (96%) Guinea 1965, 2000* 1 — — 2 — — 2 — 
			 Guinea-Bissau (50%) Guinea-Bissau 2011 3 — 1 — — — — — 
			 Iraq (8%) Iraq (Kurdistan region) 2011 2 — 2 — — 1 — — 
			 Kenya (27%) Kenya 2001, 2011* 17 28 33 41 24 23 18 11 
			 Liberia (66%) — 1 1 — 4 — 1 1 — 
			 Mali (89%) — — 2 — — 1 1 — — 
		
	
	
		
			 Mauritania (69%) Mauritania 2005 — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Niger (2%) Niger 2003 1 1 — 1 — — — — 
			 Nigeria (27%) Nigeria (some states) 1999-2006 79 157 154 170 158 82 93 61 
			 Senegal (26%) Senegal 1999 — — 2 1 — 2 — 2 
			 Sierra Leone (88%) — 12 13 24 12 2 7 3 2 
			 Somalia (98%) Somalia 2012 — — — 3 — — — — 
			 Sudan (88%) Sudan (some states) 2008-2009 2 2 1 — — 1 — — 
			 Togo (4%) Togo 1998 11 6 6 1 — — 1 — 
			 Uganda (1%) Uganda 2010 97 72 48 39 38 27 21 13 
			 United Republic of Tanzania (15%) United Republic of Tanzania 1998 — — 10 7 1 7 10 6 
			 Yemen (23%) Yemen 2001 3 1 1 5 3 1 — — 
		
	
	26 countries in Africa and the middle east have prohibited FGM/C by law or constitutional decree. Two of them—South Africa and Zambia—are not among the 29 countries where the practice is concentrated. With the exception of Guinea and the Central African Republic, where bans on FGM/C were instituted, in the mid-1960s, the process of enacting legislation or revising the criminal code to outlaw the practice only began to take hold in Africa quite recently. Legislation prohibiting FGM/C has also been adopted in 33 countries on other continents, mostly to protect children with origins in practising countries.

Borders: Personal Records

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date she expects the e-Borders programme to fulfil its original objective of covering all international travellers using all UK ports.

Mark Harper: The Government remains committed to e-borders, which is currently covering around two-thirds of passenger movements. The UK has one of the most comprehensive passenger data systems currently operating in Europe. The Government is working closely with passenger operators, ports and international partners to provide for more comprehensive coverage, with a view to introducing exit checks by 2015.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been taken forward as a result of the work of Child Exploitation and Online Protection in each of the last three financial years.

Damian Green: holding answer 5 November 2013
	The above information is not held centrally.
	The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command housed within the National Crime Agency receives and develops intelligence which is then disseminated to police forces for intervention locally. The decision to progress a particular intelligence package and ultimately to recommend prosecution of an individual rests with the police force concerned.

Civil Disorder

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of claims made by businesses in relation to the August 2011 riots under the Riots (Damages) Act 1886 is; how many such claims have been settled; how many such claims have been rejected; how many such claims remain outstanding; what total sum has been paid to businesses under the Act in relation to the August 2011 riots; and what the total amount claimed by businesses to date is.

Damian Green: holding answer 11 November 2013
	The Home Office does not hold comprehensive details of the claims made under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 in relation to the August 2011 riots. Under the 1886 Act, all claims for compensation are made directly to the relevant police authority (from November 2012, police and crime commissioner or in London to the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime).

Community Orders

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2013, Official Report, column 476, on community orders, what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to increase the number of victims of crime who have their views taken into consideration by the police or Crown Prosecution Service; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: Under the new Victims’ Code, published on 29 October 2013, where an out of court disposal (including a community resolution) is being considered by the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or youth offending team, victims are entitled, where practicable, to be asked for their views and to have these views taken into account when a decision is made. Victims are entitled to be notified of the reasons following a CPS or a police decision not to prosecute. Under the new code, victims are also entitled to information about how they can access further information about a CPS decision and how they can seek a review of a CPS decision if they are dissatisfied with it as part of the CPS “Victims’ Right to Review”.
	As announced by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the right hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), on 29 October 2013, Official Report, columns 44-45WS, the Government intends shortly to carry out a review of all out of court disposals. This review will include community resolutions and consider the role that victims’ views play in the process.

Council of Europe Convention On Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violenc

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2013, Official Report, columns 509-10W, on the Istanbul Convention, what timetable her Department has put in place to ensure that all articles of the Convention are fully met before ratification.

Norman Baker: holding answer 11 November 2013
	The criminalisation of forced marriage is a vital component of the UK's compliance with the articles of the Istanbul Convention. The Coalition Government has brought forward provisions in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise forced marriage and the timetable for ratification of the Convention is subject to our receiving Royal Assent for the Bill.

Crimes of Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will launch a call to end violence against men and boys strategy.

Norman Baker: The coalition Government takes the issue of male victims of domestic violence and abuse seriously. We have always been clear in our definition that domestic violence and abuse is gender neutral, and that while the majority of incidents of domestic violence and abuse are against women and girls, men and boys can also suffer accordingly. That is why the actions set out in the Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan apply to both men and women.

Crimes of Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to protect men from domestic and sexual violence.

Norman Baker: The Government's Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan also includes actions to protect men from domestic and sexual violence, such as funding the men's advice line and Broken Rainbow helplines. We are committed to supporting this vital service for male victims. In addition, we will be reviewing reports from projects funded by the Males Victims Fund to identify lessons that can be shared more widely.

Deportation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how her Department checks the accreditation process for detainee custody officers who work as overseas escorts during the enforced removal of foreign nationals from the UK.

Mark Harper: Detainee Custody Officers who are employed as overseas escorts are accredited by Home Office Immigration Enforcement in accordance with Detention Services Order 4/2011 which is available at:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/detention-services-orders/
	—Detainee custody officer certification

Deportation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has introduced realistic scenario-based training replicating situations and safe restraint techniques for use on board aircraft for overseas escorts undertaking enforced removals of foreign nationals from the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: Following a review of current restraint techniques we have asked the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) to design a bespoke Home Office training package for escorts. The new training package will have a focus on specific scenarios replicating key stages in the removals process, most importantly aircraft. In January 2013 an Independent Advisory Panel on Non-Compliance Management were appointed to provide support in the development of this package as well as providing independent advice on the quality and safety of systems of restraint and equipment proposed by NOMS.

Deportation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removal directions served on immigration detainees have been cancelled and reset in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: holding answer 8 November 2013
	The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men have been victims of domestic homicide in each police force area in each of the last five years.

Norman Baker: The available information relates to crimes recorded by the police on the Homicide Index in England and Wales.
	The ONS publication “Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences”, available at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/focus-on-violent-crime/stb-focus-on--violent-crime-and-sexual-offences-2011-12.html
	provides figures on the number of homicides where the victim’s relationship to the principal suspect was partner or ex-partner in England and Wales. Information by police force area and where the victim was male is given in the following table.
	
		
			 Offences currently recorded as domestic homicide(1, 2 )for male victims by police force area, 2007-08 to 2011-12, England and Wales 
			  Number of male victims 
			 Police force area 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 0 1 2 1 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 1 0 1 
			 British Transport Police 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 3 0 1 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 2 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Durham 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed Powys 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 2 2 2 1 3 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Hampshire 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Kent 1 0 1 0 2 
			 Lancashire 2 2 0 2 0 
			 Leicestershire 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 1 0 
			 London, City of 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 9 3 1 5 1 
			 Norfolk 0 0 1 0 1 
			 North Wales 1 1 1 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Northumbria 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 1 0 0 1 
			 South Wales 0 0 1 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 4 1 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Surrey 0 1 0 2 1 
			 Sussex 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Warwickshire 1 0 0 1 1 
			 West Mercia 1 0 1 1 0 
			 West Midlands 1 3 1 2 0 
			 West Yorkshire 3 3 2 0 1 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 1 0 
			 England and Wales 30 32 19 22 17 
			 (1) As at 1 November 2012; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Offences where the victim’s relationship to principal suspect is ‘spouse (including civil partner), cohabiting partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, ex-spouse/ex-cohabiting partner/ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, adulterous relationship, lover’s spouse or emotional rival’ are shown. Source: Homicide Index, Home Office.

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which EU member states have informed the Council and the European Commission that they have implemented the obligations laid down in Council Decision 2008/615/JHA; and which of those member states have indicated that they will apply that Decision immediately in their relations with other member states that have given the same indication; and what her assessment is of when (a) other EU member states and (b) the UK will inform the Council and the European Commission that they have implemented the obligations of that Decision.

James Brokenshire: The Commission published a report on the implementation of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the stepping up of cross-border co-operation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime (the ‘Prüm Decision') in December 2012. This report includes details of steps taken by other EU member states to implement the obligations laid down by the Prüm Decisions.
	A full text version of the report is available online at:
	http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0732:FIN:EN:PDF
	The UK Government has been clear that it cannot fully implement all the requirements of the Prüm Decisions before 1 December 2014. As the UK has indicated that the Prüm Decision is not one of the 35 measures which we will seek to rejoin in the national interest, it is important to note that on 1 December 2014 there would be no risk that the UK will be subject to infraction proceedings by the European Commission as a result.

Firearms: Crime

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will set a date to meet the police forces to discuss the expansion of data collection on the use of (a) illegally held and (b) legally held firearms in crimes committed in Britain.

Damian Green: The Home Office is currently considering whether the current data collection should be expanded and will discuss with the police at the appropriate point.

Illegal Immigrants

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal migrants to the UK were found entering the country on freight in each year since 2010.

Mark Harper: The breakdown of information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigrants: Detainees

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the number and locations of individuals held in prison solely for immigration purposes as part of the quarterly immigration statistics.

Mark Harper: holding answer 11 November 2013
	Currently we do not publish data relating to the number and locations of individuals held in prison solely for immigration purposes. However, the quarterly immigration statistics are kept under review, taking into account the needs of users and burdens on suppliers and producers in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
	The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of people detained in the United Kingdom for immigration purposes, within Immigration Statistics. The data on people in detention are readily available in the latest release, “Immigration Statistics: April to June 2013”, from the gov.uk website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
	Published figures on people detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers include those held in short term holding facilities, pre departure accommodation and immigration removal centres. Figures exclude those held in police cells, Prison Service establishments, short term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours) and those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants.

Immigrants: Detainees

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2013, Official Report, column 116W, on migrants: detainees, how many individuals held in prisons solely for immigration purposes had been held for (i) less than six months, (ii) between six and 12 months, (iii) between one and two years and (iv) longer than two years; and if she will provide a breakdown of the prisons in which individuals held solely for immigration purposes were held.

Mark Harper: holding answer 11 November 2013
	The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration Controls

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will implement a same-day checking service for employers.

Mark Harper: holding answer 8 November 2013
	There are no current plans to reduce the response time for the employer checking service to a same day service.
	Our current service standard is five working days and we often exceed this. Currently our year to date response rate is 3.69 days.

Immigration Controls

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private flights arriving in the UK are not checked on arrival by UK Border Force staff.

Mark Harper: holding answer 11 November 2013
	Border Force risk assess 100% of flights notified to us and seek to deploy to all high priority flights. Between April and August this year Border Force met 98% of high priority flights. We do not hold data on how many arriving private flights were not notified to us.

Members: Correspondence

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire of 1 July, 16 September and 9 October 2013 on the EgyptAir flight that landed on 15 June 2013 and the five Syrian passengers it contained who were seeking asylum.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the hon. Member on 11 November 2013.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the powers and responsibilities of Police and Crime Panels are.

Damian Green: holding answer 8 November 2013
	Police and crime panels (PCPs) perform a scrutiny function, providing both support and challenge to police and crime commissioners (PCCs) on the exercise of their functions. The powers and responsibilities of PCPs are set out in sections 28 to 30 and 32 to 33 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, and there is further relevant provision in schedules 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 to the Act. These give PCPs the power to:
	scrutinise all decisions or actions of the PCC;
	require the PCC to provide information and answer questions;
	make reports and recommendations on the police and crime plan and annual report, of which the PCC must take account and respond;
	hold public meetings to discuss the annual report and to question the PCC on its contents;
	carry out confirmation hearings when a PCC proposes to appoint a new deputy PCC, a chief executive or a chief finance officer;
	work to resolve non-criminal complaints made about the PCC;
	ask Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary for a professional view when the PCC intends to dismiss a chief constable;
	publish all reports and recommendations that it makes;
	suspend the relevant PCC if he/she is charged with an imprisonable offence which carries a maximum term of two years or more;
	appoint an acting PCC if the elected one cannot carry out their role eg for health reasons, or following suspension, resignation or disqualification.
	PCPs also have the power to veto (with a two-thirds majority) the PCC's proposed policing precept (the element of council tax that is raised for policing) and the appointment of a chief constable.

Police: Information

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she has issued on police information notices and circumstances in which they are appropriate.

Damian Green: holding answer 11 November 2013
	The use of harassment warnings, also known as police information notices (PINs), is an operational matter for the police. Guidance on investigating stalking and harassment, including using PINs, was issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Policing Improvement Agency in 2009.

Police: Lancashire

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the 2013 Spending Review, what the change in allocated funding for Lancashire Police Authority has been in 2013-14; and what assessment she has made of the effect of that change on the effectiveness of policing in Preston constituency.

Damian Green: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne)’s spending round announcement on 26 June concerned decisions on Government funding for the financial year 2015-16 only. It therefore had no impact on 2013-14 police budgets.
	Central Government funding for the Lancashire police and crime commissioner in 2013-14 was set out in the Home Office Police Grant Report 2013-14, laid on 4 February 2013 and accompanying written ministerial statement, 4 February 2013, Official Report, columns 3-6WS.
	In 2013-14, core funding to the Lancashire police and crime commissioner from the Home Office is £198 million.
	As a result of spending round 2013, the Home Office has committed to resource savings of 6.1 % in 2015-16. However, central Government revenue funding to the police has been prioritised, and will reduce by 4.9% in real terms in 2015-16.
	Provisional funding allocations for 2014-15 will be laid in Parliament later in the year as part of the annual police funding settlement process.

Police: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-PSNI officers have been deployed in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and from which constabulary each such officer was deployed.

Damian Green: The deployment of officers by police forces in England and Wales is an operational matter for those forces, under mutual aid arrangements.
	The Home Office does not routinely collect this information for England and Wales. Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government.

Police: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Garda Siochana have been seconded to work in police forces in Great Britain in each year since 2010.

Damian Green: The Home Office does not hold this information for England and Wales. Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government.

Police: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have been seconded to work in police forces in Great Britain since 2010.

Damian Green: The Home Office does not hold this information for England and Wales. Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government.

Police: Sussex

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many police information notices have been issued by Sussex Police in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many people have been issued with a police information notices by Sussex Police in each of the last three years which led to a subsequent charge of harassment.

Damian Green: holding answer 11 November 2013
	The information requested is not recorded centrally.

Police: Wales

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what criteria her Department used to assess the request made by South Wales Police in 2012 for National, International and Capital City funding;
	(2)  for what reasons the Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice declined the request made by South Wales police in 2012 for National, International and Capital City funding and other additional funding to recognise the challenges of policing Cardiff as a capital city;
	(3)  when the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice last discussed funding for (a) South Wales police and (b) the policing of Cardiff with the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.

Damian Green: In February 2012, the Chief Constable of South Wales police submitted a formal request for additional funding based on the fact that they police the capital city of Wales. The former Policing Minister concluded that Cardiff did not face the same challenges and responsibilities as those that come with policing London.
	The reasons to support this were as follows:
	Although Cardiff is a busy city with a large number of visitors, events, sporting fixtures and protests, these factors are not unique to Cardiff. Many other cities such as Manchester and Birmingham have higher numbers of visitors, similar sized sports venues and see regular protests on a range of issues.
	The National and International Capital City Grant (NICC) reflects the additional burdens placed on the metropolitan police. These include the seat of Government, a permanent Royal presence and significant numbers of events that require policing including a multitude of international conferences such as the G20.
	The application referenced the fact that the Lothian and Borders force receives an additional payment for policing Edinburgh. The Home Secretary does not have responsibility for policing in Scotland and therefore this is a matter for the Scottish Government.
	The application also referred to the challenges that South Wales faces in relation to the Olympics and counter-terrorism. South Wales were provided with additional funding for the Olympics and they also receive funds for counter-terrorism policing.
	I last discussed funding for South Wales police on a visit to Wales in January 2013.

Safety Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces permit persons found guilty of an offence under section 14(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to attend a driving safety course paid for by the offender that includes instruction on the benefits of wearing seat belts in lieu of a fine; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The police do not give offenders a fine as these can only be given by a court after a person has been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. 19 police forces now offer the “Your Belt—Your Life” seat belt educational course within the national driver offender retraining scheme (NDORS) that covers poor driving behaviours or attitudes. Details of courses offered outside the scheme are not held centrally. It is a matter for the police as to who provides a course and for police to decide if they wish to participate in the scheme.

Vetting

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) standard and (b) enhanced disclosure Criminal Records Bureau checks have been applied for in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 5 November 2013
	The following table contains the number of applications for standard and enhanced disclosure checks for each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Standard Enhanced 
			 2009 345,244 3,924,668 
			 2010 187,985 4,031,334 
			 2011 240,103 3,780,345 
			 2012 272,731 3,862,417 
			 2013 181,076 2,813,254

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bovine Tuberculosis

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has for the allocation of the £32 million EU fund for bovine tuberculosis eradication; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: The EU lays down rules for its financial contribution for animal disease eradication programmes including details of eligible expenses and the maximum contributions payable.
	Commission Implementing Decision 2012/761/EU enables lump sum contributions for domestic animals sampled, tuberculin tests, gamma-interferon tests, bacteriological tests and a contribution to the costs of compensation payable to owners for slaughtered animals, for approved bovine tuberculosis eradication programmes in 2013.
	The Decision enables the UK to receive a maximum financial contribution of EUR 31,800,000 for its bovine tuberculosis eradication programme in 2013. Following claim in 2014, any reimbursement received will be used to offset the devolved costs of bovine tuberculosis sampling, testing and compensation already incurred by DEFRA, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the licence conditions for using cage traps on badgers for the pilot culls are monitored in severe weather; and whether such cage trappings are suspended due to the risk of exposing badgers to extreme weather.

George Eustice: Requirements for cage trapping are set out in best practice guidance, which is available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69544/pb13715-badger-shooting-cage-trapping.pdf
	Natural England carry out monitoring to ensure that the culls are being conducted in accordance with the Best Practice Guidance: Monitoring activity levels are not weather dependent.
	In the winter, the closed season for cage trapping (which starts at the beginning of December) aims to protect trapped badgers from poor weather conditions.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether cage trapping for badgers in the two pilot areas was suspended due to severe weather on 27 and 28 October 2013.

George Eustice: Cage trapping was not formally suspended for any periods during the pilot culls. It is for the cull companies to decide how they deploy cage trapping during the cull, provided it is carried out in accordance with best practice Guidance:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69544/pb13715-badger-shooting-cage-trapping.pdf
	and in accordance with the conditions of their licence.

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for Darwin Plus funding were received in the (i) first and (ii) second application rounds; and what the total financial value was of applications received in each round.

Dan Rogerson: In 2012, 42 eligible Darwin Plus applications were received totalling £7,471,534 (ranging from £8,000 to £1.3 million). In 2013, 50 applications were received totalling £8,383,462.19 (ranging from £34,000 to £400,000).

Common Agricultural Policy

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with Ministers for Agriculture in the devolved administrations about implementation of the common agricultural policy, and the allocation of budgets to each administration; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: On 8 November, the Secretary of State announced the Government's decision on the allocation of the common agricultural policy (CAP) budget for the period 2014-20 within the UK. Before making a decision on how to divide the funds between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, he sought and considered the views of agriculture Ministers in each of the devolved Administrations. Although the implementation of the CAP regulations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for their respective Governments, the Secretary of State has extended an offer to work with the devolved Administrations as implementation is taken forward across the UK.

Common Agricultural Policy

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the National Farmers' Union, NFU Scotland, the Farmers' Union of Wales and the Ulster Farmers' Union on (a) the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy from 2015 and (b) the allocation of the budget in that respect.

George Eustice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), regularly meets with a range of farming stakeholders including the National Farmers' Union. The most recent stakeholder meeting was held in September and was focused on how the next CAP should be implemented in England.
	The implementation of the CAP regulations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for respective devolved Governments.
	Before making a decision on the allocation of the UK's CAP funding, the Secretary of State and Ministers have listened to the views of stakeholders across the UK, including the National Farmers' Union, NFU Scotland, the Farmers' Union of Wales and the Ulster Farmers' Union. We have also sought and considered the view of agriculture Ministers in each of the devolved Administrations.

Food Banks

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to publish the results of the research project on the provision of food aid in the UK.

George Eustice: DEFRA has commissioned research to review publically available evidence on the landscape of food aid provision and access in the UK.
	All Government-funded research projects are required to go through the necessary review and quality assurance processes prior to publication. Once this process is complete, the conclusions of this work will be made available on the Government's website.

Food Banks

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to publish the Warwick University study on the use of food banks.

George Eustice: DEFRA has commissioned research to review publically available evidence on the landscape of food aid provision and access in the UK.
	All Government-funded research projects are required to go through the necessary review and quality assurance processes prior to publication. Once this process is complete, the conclusions of this work will be made available on the Government's website.

Qualifications

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people employed by his Department hold a (a) bachelor's, (b) master's and (c) PhD-level degree in computer science; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: Core DEFRA does not hold information about the qualifications of staff centrally and therefore this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

Sky Lanterns

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the banning of Chinese lanterns;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to ban the use of Chinese lanterns.

George Eustice: We have received a number of representations from farming and conservation groups arguing that sky lanterns should be banned.
	Because of these concerns, we commissioned an independent study to identify and assess the impacts and risks associated with lantern use. Published in May 2013, the study concluded that any widespread risk of injury to cattle or damage to the environment is low.
	We have recently issued safety guidance for the use of sky lanterns and we would urge people to follow it. However, the evidence available at this stage falls short of the level required to justify a ban.

Water Charges

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of people who pay lower water bills as a result of the WaterSure tariff.

Dan Rogerson: In England 71,304 households pay lower water bills as a result of the WaterSure tariff.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what design features are incorporated into the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers to allow for shipborne rolling vertical landing.

Philip Dunne: The principal elements of the shipborne rolling vertical landing (SRVL) system, to be incorporated into the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, include a visual landing aid system, glide path cameras and software modifications to the information displays in the aft island's flying control centre.

Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers to conduct shipborne rolling vertical landing operations with the Joint Strike Fighter in moderate to heavy seas.

Philip Dunne: The Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will be able to conduct shipborne rolling vertical landings in a wide range of environmental conditions, including moderate to heavy sea states.

Aircraft Carriers

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of people required to maintain the second proposed aircraft carrier whilst it is baseported; and what estimate he has made of such number if that carrier is mothballed.

Philip Dunne: The Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class Support Development Phase is expected to commence later in 2013, and will consider a range of options to produce a detailed support proposal, including manpower requirements, for approval around the middle of this decade. The initial capability support solution will be in place for the arrival of the first QE Class carrier, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, in early 2017. Both QE class carriers will be baseported in Portsmouth but a decision on the employment of the second carrier will be taken at the next Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2015.

Armed Forces: Housing

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of the sums received for the sale of surplus army housing at Dog Kennel Lane, Lisburn.

Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence has sold no properties on Dog Kennel Lane.
	However, it did sell properties on Dog Kennel Close and Dog Kennel Crescent in March 2013 for £1.4 million.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all A & B vehicles back-loaded through the reverse supply chain to (a) RAF Warminster, (b) RAF Lyneham, (c) Ashchurch, (d) Donnington and (e) Warminster are held in short-term storage to comply with AESP 2300-A-401-031; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The Army Equipment Support Publication 2300-A-401-013 defines the short-term storage procedures and minimum standards for the storage, maintenance, inspection and monitoring of automotive vehicles, for periods which are not to exceed 12 months.
	All A, B, and Protected Mobility vehicles returning from Operation Herrick are held in short term storage at either the Herrick Exchange Point at Ministry of Defence Lyneham or at Ashchurch in accordance with Army Equipment Support Publication 2300-A-401-013.
	No vehicles have been back-loaded through the reverse supply chain for short-term storage to Donnington or Warminster, although some vehicles held at MOD Lyneham may be sent to Warminster for repair and maintenance before being issued to units or returned to storage.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many A and B vehicles were back-loaded through the reverse supply chain to (a) RAF Warminster, (b) RAF Lyneham, (c) Ashchurch, (d) Donnington and (e) Warminster from Afghanistan in 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The reverse supply chain has back-loaded the following vehicles from Afghanistan in 2012:
	29 A vehicles and 93 B vehicles to Ashchurch.
	The reverse supply chain has back-loaded the following vehicles from Afghanistan in 2013:
	20 A vehicles, 146 B vehicles and 167 protected mobility vehicles to Lyneham.
	Two A vehicles and 72 B vehicles to Ashchurch.
	No vehicles have been back-loaded through the reverse supply chain to Donnington or Warminster.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many A and B vehicles were issued through Ashchurch to Afghanistan in each year between 2002 and 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The numbers of A and B vehicles issued through Ashchurch to Afghanistan from 2009 are supplied in the following table:
	
		
			 Number 
			 Financial year A vehicles B vehicles 
			 2009-10 50 685 
			 2010-11 31 685 
			 2011-12 14 96 
			 2012-13 0 2 
			 2013 to date 0 3 
		
	
	Information on the number of vehicles issued prior to 2009 is not held.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much individual covered vehicle storage space is available at (a) RAF Warminster, (b) RAF Lyneham, (c) Ashchurch, (d) Donnington and (e) Warminster; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Covered vehicle storage at Ministry of Defence Lyneham totals 24,964 square metres and at Ashchurch totals 325,748 square metres.
	No vehicles are stored at Warminster or Donnington.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the frequency is of the regular visual inspection of A & B vehicles stored at (a) RAF Warminster, (b) RAF Lyneham, (c) Ashchurch, (d) Donnington and (e) Warminster; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Vehicles stored at Ministry of Defence Lyneham and Ashchurch are visually inspected on a regular basis for signs of deterioration due to age or storage conditions. Initially this should be on a weekly basis; storage conditions will dictate subsequent inspection intervals. As a general rule, all equipment will be left alone as much as possible during the storage term.
	No vehicles are stored at Warminster or Donnington.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many A & B vehicles are currently (a) stored under cover in an unheated hangar and (b) outside in the open at (i) RAF Warminster, (ii) RAF Lyneham, (iii) Ashchurch, (iv) Donnington and (v) Warminster; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Ashchurch has 1,277 A and B vehicles stored under cover in a controlled humidity environment, 4,445 A and B vehicles stored under cover in unheated hangars and 485 vehicles stored uncovered as stock pending disposal.
	Ministry of Defence Lyneham has 20 A vehicles, 146 B vehicles and 167 Protected Mobility vehicles stored under cover in unheated hangars.
	No vehicles are stored at Warminster or Donnington.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any (a) Defence Council instructions, (b) standard operating procedures and (c) local regulations issued in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012 override AESP2300-A-401-031; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Defence Council instructions, standing operating procedures or local regulations do not override Army Equipment Support Publication 2300-A-401-013. There is a formal change procedure that is used when amendments are required to Army Equipment Support Publication 2300-A-401-013.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a detailed stockholding assessment has been carried out for the storage of military vehicles following withdrawal from (a) Afghanistan and (b) Germany; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: An initial assessment was conducted at the end of 2012 of the size of the vehicle fleet that would be required to equip the new Army 2020 structure. This took account of vehicles redeploying from Afghanistan and Germany. The assessment included a requirement to store around 7,000 vehicles in a controlled humidity environment. Work continues to determine the exact storage requirement and is scheduled to be complete by the middle of 2014.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles held by his Department offer nuclear, biological and chemical protection; which Defence Support Group sites are able to provide inspection and testing capability; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: I am withholding information on the number of vehicles that offer protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
	The Defence Support Group sites at Ashchurch, Bovington and Donnington are able to provide inspection and testing capability for vehicles that have CBRN protection.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a controlled humidity environment is available for the storage of vehicles at (a) RAF Warminster, (b) RAF Lyneham, (c) MOD Ashchurch, (d) MOD Donnington and (e) Warminster; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Currently only Ashchurch has a controlled humidity environment available for the storage of vehicles. An assessment is under way to consider what additional controlled humidity environment storage capacity is required to meet Future Force 2020.

Army: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the adequacy of the treatment for mental health issues available to soldiers in Northern Ireland.

Anna Soubry: Members of the armed forces based in Northern Ireland have access to military mental health services that follow the same model as those available in other parts of the United Kingdom. These are configured to provide community-based mental health care in line with national best practice, providing assessment and treatment in line with the guidelines and standards set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Service Frameworks.
	Mental health care is available from a range of medical facilities, starting with local service primary care facilities. Where necessary, patients in Northern Ireland can be referred to the military operated Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) at Lisburn, near Belfast, which provides out-patient mental health care. The DCMH mental health team comprises psychiatrists and mental health nurses, with access to clinical psychologists and mental health social workers. A wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments are available, including medication, psychological therapies, and environmental adjustment where appropriate. In-patient care, when necessary, is provided in specialised psychiatric units under a contract with a partnership involving eight NHS mental health trusts.

Charities Act 2006

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports his Department has laid before each House of Parliament pursuant to section 70(9) of the Charities Act 2006 in 2012-13.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is contained in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13, page 151, paragraph 26.6 which is available on the Gov.uk website at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-annual-report-and-accounts-201213
	See also pages 36 and 37 which include specific references to some of the Department's work with charities.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which equipment programmes currently have a cost overrun risk ratio of 90 per cent for the public purse and 10 per cent for the contractor.

Philip Dunne: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Notice of Concern from the Deputy Inspector General of the US Department of Defense dated 22 October 2012 regarding the visit to BAE Systems in Samlesbury in connection with the Joint Strike Fighter Programme.

Philip Dunne: The US Department of Defense Inspector General routinely undertakes quality assurance assessments of UK contractors working on US defence contracts. The aim of the inspection is to ensure that contractors are compliant with the agreed processes and procedures, with corrective actions put in place where this is not the case.
	The BAE Systems assessment was completed in 2012 and highlighted a number of non-compliances which are all being rectified as part of normal routine work.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Notice of Concern from the Deputy Inspector General of the US Department of Defense dated 20 November 2012 regarding the visit to Honeywell Aerospace in Yeovil in connection with the Joint Strike Fighter Programme.

Philip Dunne: The US Department of Defense Inspector General routinely undertakes quality assurance assessments of UK contractors working on US defence contracts. The aim of the inspection is to ensure that contractors are compliant with the agreed processes and procedures, with corrective actions put in place where this is not the case.
	The Honeywell assessment was completed in 2012 and highlighted a number of non-compliances which are all being rectified as part of normal routine work.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels will use gas turbine parts from Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Philip Dunne: Gas turbine parts supplied by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) are not currently in use on any Royal Navy ships. No decisions about whether to use parts supplied by KHI in the future have been taken; such decisions will be taken at the appropriate time.

Military Bases

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recorded accidents there were at (a) Donnington, (b) Warminster and (c) Ashfield by (i) Defence Support Group staff and (ii) agency workers in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Ashfield is not a recognised Defence Support Group (DSG) location therefore my response includes figures for DSG Ashchurch.
	Recorded accidents by DSG employees and agency personnel in the last three financial years (FY) at Donnington, Warminster and Ashchurch are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of accidents Number of DSG staff Number of Agency staff 
			 Donnington    
			 2011-12 144 144 0 
			 2012-13 102 95 7 
			 2013-14 54 52 (1)2 
			     
			 Warminster    
			 2011-12 56 56 0 
			 2012-13 84 81 3 
			 2013-14 36 32 (1)4 
			     
		
	
	
		
			 Ashchurch    
			 2011-12 12 12 0 
			 2012-13 13 12 1 
			 2013-14 3 3 (1)0 
			 (1 )Figures as at 31 October 2013

Military Bases

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether access to a railway line is available at (a) RAF Warminster, (b) RAF Lyneham, (c) Ashchurch, (d) Donnington and (e) Warminster; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Access to a railway line is available at Ashchurch, Donnington and Defence Support Group Warminster.
	There is no access to a railway line at Ministry of Defence Lyneham.

Military Bases

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how far it is to the nearest motorway access point from (a) RAF Warminster, (b) RAF Lyneham, (c) Ashchurch, (d) Donnington and (e) Warminster; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 MOD site Nearest motorway Approximate distance in miles 
			 RAF Lyneham M4, junction 16 6 
			 Ashchurch M5, junction 9 1 
			 Donnington M54, junction 7 5 
			 Warminster M4, junction 17 24

Military Bases

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much rental income was earned from buildings at each defence support group site in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The Defence Support Group derived rental income in each of the last five financial years (FY) from the sites outlined in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Financial year 
			 DSG site 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Sealand 78 330 289 272 318 
			 Donnington 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Colchester 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Warminster 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Catterick 1 1 1 1 1 
			 DSG total 84 336 295 278 324

Military Bases

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which defence support group sites have the capacity to inspect and test nuclear biological and chemical clean air supply in military vehicles; what training is required for staff to carry out such work; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Defence Support Group (DSG) Ashchurch, Bovington and Donnington all have the capacity presently to inspect and test nuclear, biological and chemical clean air supply in military vehicles. All DSG employees undertaking this work are suitably qualified technicians working to required established procedures.

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many cases of self-harm by civilian staff took place in military establishments in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many cases of self-harm by civilian staff took place in military establishments in Northern Ireland between 1 April and 30 September 2013.

Anna Soubry: I will answer shortly.
	Substantive answer from Anna Soubry to Margaret Ritchie:
	The Ministry of Defence is unaware of any such cases having occurred.

Military Decorations

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to reduce the qualifying period for the General Service Medal Cyprus Clasp from 120 days; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The qualification period for the General Service Medal Clasp Cyprus is one of a number of issues that is being considered further by Sir John Holmes’ independent medal review. As this is an independent review it is not possible for me to pre-empt the outcome.

MOD Ashchurch

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what planning applications have been made in relation to the Ashchurch site in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: Planning applications made at Ashchurch since 2005 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Works 
			 September 2005 Replacement of asbestos sheet roof, gutters and downpipes on buildings 111 and 150 
			 January 2005 Construction of one temporary portakabin 
			 January 2007 Two-storey extension to modular office building 
			 June 2009 Erection of two security bunds and associated landscaping 
			 September 2008 Installation of 34 new and 13 replacement eight metre lighting columns 
			 August 2009 Erection of two security bunds on the eastern side of the main entrance 
			 August 2009 Erection of security bund parallel to the western side of Austin road 
		
	
	
		
			 August 2009 Retention of stockpiled excavated material and depositing of new material to form two spectator embankments adjacent to existing training and recreation area 
			 September 2011 Demolition of building 5(1) 
			 (1) Works not carried out.

MOD Ashchurch

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the role of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Logistic Commodities and Services in planning for any closure of Ashchurch; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The role of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation is to provide for any reprovision of facilities required and in due course to dispose of the Ashchurch site.
	Logistic Commodities and Services are responsible for managing the Ashchurch site.

MOD Ashchurch

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2013, Official Report, column 1265W, on defence support group, whether his Department has developed a business case for the sale of Defence Support Group Ashchurch; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence is in early discussions which may lead to the appointment of a development partner. At this moment in time, no business case has been developed.

MOD Ashchurch

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2013, Official Report, column 1265W, on defence support group, whether a contamination survey has found evidence of asbestos at Defence Support Group Ashchurch; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The last Ashchurch land quality assessment completed in 2012 identified three locations containing asbestos fibres.
	The asbestos fibres are buried and therefore the risk to site users is low and there is no effect on day to day operations.

MOD Ashchurch

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury of 15 April 2013, Official Report, column 285W, on MOD Ashchurch, what recent estimate he has made of the costs of (a) physical movements, (b) extra training, (c) redundancy payments and (d) any other items of expenditure as a result of moving operations carried out at Ashchurch; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 April 2013, Official Report, columns 284-85W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury (Mr Robertson).
	The estimate of the cost of moving operations carried out at Ashchurch remains unchanged.

MOD Donnington

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what planning applications have been made in relation to Defence Support Group Donnington in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The Defence Support Group at Donnington submitted one planning application during the period in 2012 to upgrade its ultra high pressure wash facility.

Patrol Craft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate (a) the total cost of the contract for the three offshore patrol vessels, (b) the unit cost of the vessels and (c) when each vessel will enter service.

Philip Dunne: Based on a firm price offer, and subject to main gate approval and contractual agreement, the cost of the contract for the three offshore patrol vessels, including initial spares and support, is expected to be £348 million. A unit cost for these vessels has not yet been calculated. On current plans, the contract will be signed in 2014, with the three vessels entering service between 2017 and 2018.

Patrol Craft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether ocean patrol vessels will be equipped with (a) Scanter 4100 air search radar and (b) a hanger capable of housing a Merlin helicopter.

Philip Dunne: As the Secretary of State for Defence announced in the House on 6 November 2013, Official Report, column 252, the Ministry of Defence has signed an Agreement in Principle with BAE Systems to order three new Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Royal Navy, based on a more capable variant of the River Class, including a landing deck able to take a Merlin helicopter. This project will be subject to Main Gate approval in the coming months and, as is the standard practice with equipment projects, the final design, equipment fit and build programme will not finally be set until this main investment decision has been taken.

Pensions

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the review of the pension ages of the Ministry of Defence Police and the Defence Fire and Rescue Service will consider the cost of individuals' pension contributions and existing net pay deductions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2013, Official Report, columns 125-6W, on pensions, when he intends to place in the Library the terms of reference for the review of the pension ages of the Ministry of Defence Police and the Defence Fire and Rescue Service.

Anna Soubry: holding answer 5 November 2013
	For details of the remit of the review I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for International Security Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), on 31 October 2013, Official Report, column 549W, to the hon. Member for West Dunbartonshire (Gemma Doyle).
	A copy of the Terms of Reference has now been placed in the Library of the House. It is regretted that this was not done earlier.

Portsmouth Dockyard

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to ensure that Portsmouth Dockyard has the capability to supply power to two aircraft carriers in dock simultaneously;
	(2)  what steps his Department plans to take to ensure appropriate power supply to two aircraft carriers when simultaneously alongside each other in Portsmouth dockyard.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence is fully aware that the existing National Grid electrical supply arrangements at the dockyard will not support the potential peak demand of the Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class and other Royal Navy vessels planned to be based in Portsmouth. Options to address this shortfall were studied in detail during the QE Class Baseport Assessment Study 2007-09. To meet the needs of the first vessel, a dedicated National Grid supply is currently being procured to service the QE Class Jetties and will be in place ready for the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth in her home port in early 2017. Further detailed analysis to meet the enduring long-term demand is scheduled for 2014, to ensure that when the deployment of the second vessel is considered in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, potential outcomes are not constrained.

Salvage

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many on-site exploratory salvage and marine operations have occurred in each of the last three years.

Philip Dunne: In the last three years, the Ministry of Defence’s salvage and marine operations team has completed a total of 12 exploratory operations on eight wrecks, two in 2011, four in 2012 and six in 2013.

Salvage

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vessels (a) worldwide and (b) in UK territorial waters are active concerns for the Salvage and Marine Operations unit.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Salvage and Marine Operations (S&MO) Team is responsible for the management of approximately 3,500 MOD-owned legacy wrecks. Of the 807 UK military wrecks for which we have confirmed locations, 231 lie in UK territorial waters and 576 lie elsewhere, either in international waters or the territorial waters of other countries. Information relating to the locations of the remaining 2,700 MOD-owned legacy wrecks is limited to the general sea area.

Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department (a) were disciplined and (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence does not use disciplinary processes to deal with poor attendance due to sickness; measures are taken under 'restoring efficiency' policies, which can culminate in dismissal. Some 148 individuals had their employment terminated in the period November 2012 to October 2013 due to absence related to their sickness record. An additional 31 individuals were dismissed for reasons of poor attendance in which sickness may have been a factor.

Territorial Army

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by Operation Fortify in relation to its quarterly targets for number of recruits.

Anna Soubry: holding answer 5 November 2013
	Following the publication of the White Paper “Reserves in the Future Force 2020: Valuable and Valued” on 3 July 2013 (CM 8655), the conditions are now in place to grow the Army Reserve to 30,000 by the end of 2018 as part of a fully integrated Army. In support of this; we are investing £1.8 billion, in training, support and equipment for the reserves over the next ten years.
	To further help kick start Army Reserve recruitment, the Army has put in place a series of measures under Op FORTIFY, including increasing the infrastructure and staff in the National Recruiting Centre to deal with demand, and launching a pilot scheme to run ‘pre-assessment clinics’ regionally for Reservist candidates.
	The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has committed to publishing recruitment figures and trained strength figures in due course.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the RAF Centre for Air Power Studies publication, British air and space power doctrine AP 3000, 4th edition, Counter-Air operations for Psychological Effect, published in 2009, what assessment his Department has made of that publication's (a) conclusions on the psychological effect of air power and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and (b) other conclusions; and when that assessment was made. [R]

Mark Francois: AP 3000 Edition 4 (now superseded by Joint Doctrine Publication 0-30) sets out the broad principles and philosophy for the application of UK Air and Space Power.
	Using the psychological effect created by Air Power, it is sometimes possible to deter potential adversaries and avoid bloodshed altogether. No specific study has been conducted by the Ministry of Defence into the psychological effects of using RPAS and indeed, it would be difficult to measure such effects quantitatively. However, empirical evidence based on observation and post-operational reporting suggests that the presence of an aircraft (manned or remotely piloted) modifies the behaviour of insurgents such as the Taliban. When aircraft are present, notable reductions in insurgent activities (such as the emplacement of improvised explosive devices) are observed with a consequent reduction in the threat to both military personnel and civilians. Troops under fire from Taliban positions have also observed that the mere approach of an aircraft is often sufficient to cause the Taliban to break off the engagement and withdraw.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2013, Official Report, column 632W, on unmanned aerial vehicles, 
	(1)  whether the legal advice provided to RAF personnel operating the Reaper Piloted Aircraft System include UK international humanitarian and human rights obligations; [R]
	(2)  in which other locations legal advice is provided to the operating personnel of unmanned aircraft systems. [R]

Mark Francois: As I stated in my previous answer, all UK armed forces personnel receive legal briefing during their pre-deployment training. They also have access to legal advice which will include advice on international humanitarian law and human rights law obligations, as appropriate.

Warships

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 6 November 2013, Official Report, columns 251-54, on Aircraft Carriers and UK Shipbuilding, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decisions on naval vessels on the UK's naval supply chain.

Philip Dunne: The agreement with BAE Systems over the future warship building programme announced by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 6 November 2013, Official Report, columns 251-54, ensures a sustainable future for the UK warship building industry. It will maintain the skills and jobs needed to deliver the programme, both within BAE Systems and within a supply chain that extends across many different areas of the UK.

World War II

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had in relation to military chains suspected of being stolen by commissioned officers during World War II.

Anna Soubry: There have been no recent representations to Ministers on this subject other than your letter of 17 June 2013 and your Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Defence on 17 October 2013.

TREASURY

Counterfeit Manufacturing: Clothing

Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission an assessment of the cost to the economy of counterfeit bridal wear being imported into the UK.

Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2013, Official Report, column reference 232W.
	As indicated my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) would be pleased to discuss the issues concerned.

Income Tax: Scotland

Michael Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of revenue foregone by the Exchequer from taxpayers resident in Scotland due to changes in the income tax threshold in each year since 2010;
	(2)  what revenue will be forgone by the Exchequer from taxpayers resident in Scotland due to changes in the income tax threshold by 25 December 2013.

Sajid Javid: The Government increased the personal allowance for those aged under 65 years between 2010-11 and 2013-14 as shown in table 1 as follows:
	
		
			 Table 1: Personal allowance (coalition Government formed in May 2010) 
			  Personal Allowance (£) 
			 2010-11 6,475 
			 2011-12 7,475 
			 2012-13 8,105 
			 2013-14 9,440 
		
	
	An estimated 2.24 million people in Scotland will benefit by an average of £393 by April 2014 and 200,000 people in Scotland will have been taken out of tax altogether.

Ineos

Dave Watts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government plans to make any new grants available to Ineos to secure the long-term future of its plant in Scotland.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), confirmed last month that Infrastructure UK are in discussions with Ineos over a Government guarantee for a new ethane facility at the Grangemouth petrochemical plant, a key part of the company's plans for the future.
	Regional aid for this proposed investment is a matter for the Scottish Government.

Ineos

Dave Watts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government grants have been made to Ineos since 1994; and what the (a) value, (b) conditions and (c) purposes of such grants were.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Ineos Chlor Ltd (now known as Ineos ChlorVinyls Ltd) was awarded a grant of up to £32 million on 16 December 2005 under the Regional Selective Assistance scheme. Following minor changes to the project, a total of £31.2 million was paid over a period up to 21 April 2008.
	The Department's agreement with the company contained a range of conditions, principally concerned with the expenditure to be defrayed under the project and the number of jobs to be safeguarded as a result of it.
	The purpose of the grant was to assist in the modernisation of the company's chlor-alkali production process at its plant in Runcorn and to protect the jobs associated with it.
	Discussions are currently taking place between Infrastructure UK and Ineos over a Government guarantee for a new ethane facility at the Grangemouth petrochemical plant, a key part of the company's plans for the future.
	Regional aid for this proposed investment is a matter for the Scottish Government.

Mortgages

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of mortgage default was in each (a) region, (b) local authority area, (c) parliamentary constituency and (d) town in the latest period for which data is available.

Sajid Javid: The Government does not collect or publish data on the rate of mortgage default. A number of organisations including the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Council of Mortgage Lenders collect data on mortgages, which they make available publically.

Payment Systems Regulator

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the process will be for appointing the new head of the Payment Systems Regulator.

Sajid Javid: As set out in the Government amendments to the Banking Reform Bill, the Financial Conduct Authority will be responsible for appointing the chair and managing director of the Payment Systems Regulator, subject to HM Treasury approval. The Financial Conduct Authority will set out the exact process for doing this in due course.

Payment Systems Regulator

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the appointment of the head of the new Payment Systems Regulator will be subject to a pre-appointment hearing with his or her attendance at the Treasury Select Committee.

Sajid Javid: As set out in the Government amendments to the Banking Reform Bill, the Financial Conduct Authority will be responsible for appointing the chair and managing director of the Payment Systems Regulator, subject to Treasury approval. The Financial Conduct Authority will set out the exact process for doing this in due course. Given that the managing director of the PSR will be an executive, appointed by the FCA, there are no plans for the appointment to be subject to a pre-appointment hearing at the Treasury Select Committee.

Payment Systems Regulator

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the relationship will be between the new Payment Systems Regulator and (a) the Financial Conduct Authority and (b) the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Sajid Javid: As set out in the Government amendments to the Banking Reform Bill, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for establishing the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), appointing its Board, and approving its budget, annual plan and annual report. There is also provision which allows the PSR to make arrangements for any of its functions to be discharged by an officer or member of staff of the FCA.
	The PSR, FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) (and the Bank of England) will be under a duty to co-ordinate the exercise of their relevant functions and to prepare and maintain a memorandum of understanding describing the role of each regulator in relation to the exercise of relevant functions which relate to matters of common regulator interest and how the regulators intend to comply with their co-ordination duty. The PSR will have powers to share information with both the FCA and the PRA and vice versa. The FCA and PRA will have powers to require the PSR to refrain from planned action, or to require modification to that action, where such an action would in their opinion damage the ability of the FCA or PRA to comply with their general duties.

Payment Systems Regulator

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers his Department will have over the new payment systems regulator.

Sajid Javid: As set out in the Government amendments to the Banking Reform Bill, HM Treasury approval will be required for the appointment, or dismissal, of the Chair and Managing Director of the new Payment Systems Regulator (PSR). HM Treasury will also have the power to designate particular payment systems, so bringing them within the scope of the PSR's regulatory powers.

Payment Systems Regulator

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the main objectives of the new payment systems regulator will be.

Sajid Javid: As set out in the Government amendments to the Banking Reform Bill, the new Payment Systems Regulator will have three payment systems objectives:
	1. The competition objective—to promote effective competition in:
	(a) the market for payment systems, and
	(b) the markets for services provided by payment systems, in the interests of those who use, or are likely to use, services provided by payment systems.
	2. The innovation objective—to promote the development of, and innovation in, payment systems in the interests of those who use, or are likely to use, services provided by payment systems, with a view to improving the quality, efficiency and economy of payment systems.
	3. The service-user objective—to ensure that payment systems are operated and developed in a way that takes account of, and promotes, the interests of those who use, or are likely to use, services provided by payment systems.

Public Sector Relocation Independent Review

Gary Streeter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much Sir Michael Lyons was paid in (a) salary, (b) other fees, (c) related expenses and (d) total for his work on the Public Sector Relocation Review published on 15 March 2013;
	(2)  how much his Department paid Sir Michael Lyons in (a) salary, (b) fees and (c) related expenses for his work on the Public Sector Relocation Review in 2007.

Nicky Morgan: No Government related reviews into public sector relocation by Sir Michael Lyons were published in either 2007 or 2013. For the 2004 review in to public sector relocation, Sir Michael Lyons received remuneration of £40,000 excluding VAT, and expenses of £6,000.

Tax Avoidance: Luxembourg

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in Luxembourg about tax avoidance schemes involving that country.

Sajid Javid: I have regular discussions with counterparts on a range of policy issues, including on the UK's efforts to tackle tax avoidance.

Tax Yields: Water Companies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much extra revenue he expects to raise from the UK water companies which have financial holding vehicles registered in the Cayman Islands following the Government's recent automatic tax information sharing agreement with the Cayman Islands signed on 5 November;
	(2)  how much extra revenue he expects to raise from each UK water company following the Government's recent automatic tax information sharing agreement with the Cayman Islands signed on 5 November.

Sajid Javid: There are no estimates available to answer these questions.

Taxation

Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of taxpayers affected by the retrospective tax changes introduced in section 58(4) of the Finance Act 2008.

Sajid Javid: UK residents are taxable on their worldwide income wherever it arises—including situations where it arises by way of foreign partnerships. Section 58 of Finance Act 2008 was enacted to help put that beyond doubt and in so doing, made clear that a wholly artificial tax avoidance scheme involving a foreign partnership comprised of foreign trustees did not work. As section 58 retrospectively clarified existing legislation, its introduction had no affect on any taxpayers tax position. HMRC has currently identified around 2,000 individuals who used the avoidance scheme or one of its variants and whose tax returns are currently under inquiry.

Taxation: Republic of Ireland

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to prevent companies erroneously claiming that sales were made in Ireland and not the UK for the purposes of calculating corporation tax;
	(2)  if he will seek to renegotiate international tax agreements to prevent companies paying tax in Ireland on profits and sales made in the UK.

Sajid Javid: The UK, along with most major economies in the world, charges corporation tax on profits not on sales or turnover. The UK system is based on internationally agreed principles, which determine how much profit each country should tax. However, I cannot comment on the tax system in Ireland.
	The UK is committed to multilateral action through the G20 and OECD to tackle the issue of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The OECD BEPS project has been scrutinising the international tax rules to find where they do not work in today's modern globalised economy.
	The G8 leaders have confirmed their support for the ongoing G20/OECD work. At the Lough Erne summit in June they called on the OECD to develop a common tool for multinationals to report to tax authorities where they make their profits and pay taxes around the world. This work is being taken forward as part of the BEPS action plan.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Gaming Machines

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the number of fixed odds betting terminals in (a) Birkenhead constituency, (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and (c) the UK.

Helen Grant: DCMS does not collate figures on the number of FOBTs by parliamentary constituency or local authority area. The Gambling Commission's most recent Industry Statistics publication shows there were 33,319 B2 gaming machines made available for use in Great Britain in the period between October 2011 and September 2012.

Visits Abroad

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, her Department made in each year since 2010; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

Helen Grant: The details requested for overseas trips are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  No. of flights Cost of flights (£) No. of Eurostar trips Cost of Eurostar trips (£) Travel and subsistence costs (including hotels land internal travel expenses) (£) Total costs (£) 
			 2010-11 98 33,804 29 5,097 63,737 102,638 
			 2011-12 154 73,565 120 19,143 138,367 231,075 
			 2012-13 110 22,300 134 22,651 155,991 200,942 
		
	
	Further detail could be provided only at disproportionate cost due to the way that these records are stored in the Department's financial systems.
	The figure has fallen from 2007-08 when the total spent on international travel was just under £300,000.

TRANSPORT

A15

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the injury rate in accidents on the A15 north of Lincoln was in each of the last 10 years.

Robert Goodwill: The Department only holds information relating to road accidents reported to the police in which at least one person was injured. The Department does not hold information relating to damage-only accidents.
	The following table gives (a) the number of reported personal injury road accidents, (b) the number of reported road casualties, (c) the number of casualties per personal injury accident, (d) the number of reported personal injury road accidents per million vehicle miles and (e) the number of reported road casualties per million vehicle miles, on the A15 north of Lincoln for 2003 to 2012. These figures include all reported personal injury accidents on the A15 between the A46 north of Lincoln and the junction with the A63 on the north side of the Humber bridge.
	
		
			  Total accidents Total casualties Casualties per accident Accidents per million vehicle miles Casualties per million vehicle miles 
			 2003 43 66 1.53 0.32 0.49 
			 2004 33 58 1.76 0.24 0.42 
			 2005 32 51 1.59 0.22 0.35 
			 2006 35 56 1.60 0.24 0.38 
			 2007 40 74 1.85 0.27 0.50 
			 2008 43 64 1.49 0.30 0.44 
			 2009 42 70 1.67 0.29 0.49 
			 2010 48 71 1.48 0.34 0.51 
			 2011 52 109 2.10 0.34 0.72 
			 2012 33 52 1.58 0.22 0.34 
		
	
	The number of accidents and casualties is relatively small, so changes between years, especially in the rate figures, will occur naturally and may not be indicative of any broader trend.

A428

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the personal injury rate on the A428 has been in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what the (a) traffic volume and (b) accident rate was on the A428 in each of the last 10 years.

Robert Goodwill: (a) The annual average daily traffic flows on the A428 for each of the last 10 years are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Westbound Eastbound Total 
			 2002 10,208 10,101 20,309 
			 2003 10,688 10,508 21,196 
			 2004 9,803 9,668 19,471 
			 2005 9,643 9,510 19,153 
			 2006 9,432 9,452 18,884 
			 2007 9,691 9,508 19,199 
			 2008 9,989 9,798 19,787 
			 2009 9,990 9,886 19,876 
		
	
	
		
			 2010 10,149 10,022 20,171 
			 2011 10,555 10,251 20,806 
			 2012 10,675 10,285 20,960 
			 Notes: A number of data sources have been used for the 2011 and 2012 figures. 
		
	
	(b) The recorded personal injury rate (casualty rate) for the A428 between St Neots and Cambridge for each of the last 10 years is as follows:
	
		
			  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Fatal 1 2 4 0 0 1 1 3 0 2 
			 Serious 28 11 18 7 23 3 3 16 4 5 
			 Slight 48 70 49 57 32 46 25 27 27 49 
			 Total 77 83 71 64 55 50 29 46 31 56 
		
	
	The Highways Agency only records accidents in which personal injuries occur. No record is kept of damage only accidents.

A428

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long the average journey time on the A428 from St Neots to Cambridge has been in each of the last 10 years.

Robert Goodwill: The average journey times, in minutes, for the A428 from St Neots to Cambridge for each of the last 10 years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of minutes 
			 2003 20 
			 2004 20 
			 2005 20 
			 2006 21 
			 2007 19 
			 2008 18 
			 2009 18 
			 2010 19 
			 2011 19 
			 2012 19 
			 2013(1) 18 
			 (1) Data up to 31 August 2013

Aviation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he or his officials had with the chief inspector of borders and immigration when drawing up their General Aviation Red Tape Challenge.

Robert Goodwill: Neither the Secretary of State for Transport or his officials have held discussions with the chief inspector of borders while developing the response to the General Aviation Red Tape Challenge.

Aviation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to match arrivals data from general aviation entries into the UK with the National Air Traffic System.

Robert Goodwill: There are no plans to match the arrivals data which the UK Border Force logs for general aviation arrivals at UK airfields. The Home Office is responsible for policy on border security and leads on information gathering in relation to general aviation arrivals. The data which is collected includes the names of all of those individuals arriving in the UK on these flights who are subsequently screened upon entry as a result of this process. The Home Office should continue to take the lead in relation to such matters.

Driving: Sleep Apnoea

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea on road safety.

Robert Goodwill: The effect of obstructive sleep apnoea on road safety was considered in a report (commissioned by the Department) ‘Fatigue and Road Safety: A Critical Analysis of Recent Evidence’ and published in February 2011.

Driving: Sleep Apnoea

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths caused by road traffic accidents in each of the last five years were attributable to the driver having undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea.

Robert Goodwill: Information on the number of road traffic deaths attributed to undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea is not held.

Finsbury Park Station

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail and Transport for London on re-development works at Finsbury Park station; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: There have been no ministerial discussions with Network Rail or Transport for London (TfL) about re-development works at Finsbury Park station.
	However, officials continue to monitor delivery of the Network Rail project to provide step free access to the mainline platforms, due for completion by the end of 2014, and the TfL project to provide access to the Victoria and Piccadilly line platforms, due for completion in 2017.
	Network Rail and TfL are working closely together to ensure that both of these complex projects are properly co-ordinated.

Gospel Oak-Barking Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost and timetable for the electrification work of the Barking to Gospel Oak line; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: Network Rail has estimated the cost of electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line to be £90 million. It is now developing a more detailed GRIP 3 estimate. I have asked Network Rail to explore with Transport for London and the freight operating companies ways this route might be efficiently electrified by December 2017 and I await their suggestions.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many passenger train services will stop at Stafford on High Speed 2 (HS2) after completion of (a) phase 1 and (b) phase 2 of HS2.
	(2)  how many passenger train services will run on the West Coast Mainline servicing (a) London to Stafford and (b) London to Stoke-on-Trent after completion of (i) phase one and (ii) phase two of High Speed 2; and what the average time will be of such journeys.

Robert Goodwill: The Department's aim is that all towns or cities which currently have a direct service to London will retain broadly comparable or better services once HS2 is completed.
	It is not appropriate to specify the exact timetable for train services that are planned to operate in 2026 when HS2 Phase 1 services begin. The detailed timetable development will take place nearer the time and will consider operational considerations as well as the forecast passenger demand for services.
	As highlighted in the Strategic Case, published on 29 October, in partnership with the railway industry, we intend to announce, shortly, a transparent and participatory process to consider long-term issues, opportunities and options for rail services on HS2 corridors. This will consider how these services can support the delivery of economic growth on a sustainable basis.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the five criteria referred to in the document, Property Compensation Consultation for London - West Midlands HS2 Route, are all weighted equally; and if not, what are the weightings for each criterion.

Robert Goodwill: We have not stated a weighting for the five policy criteria set out in the consultation document, and this means we consider them to be of equal importance.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties on Phase One of the proposed route for High Speed 2, in rural areas only and excluding those over deep bored tunnels, are within (a) 120 metres, (b) 250 metres, (c) 300 metres, (d) 350 metres, (e) 400 metres, (f) 450 metres and (g) 500usb metres of the line.

Robert Goodwill: HS2 Ltd is working to compile this information. I will write to my right hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties in the entire safeguarded area for Phase One of High Speed 2 are assigned to be demolished.

Robert Goodwill: The total number of residential properties to be demolished is 339 residential dwellings (265 buildings). Not all properties within safeguarding are required to be demolished. In addition to the number of residential properties, there are 404 commercial units (312 buildings) and 21 community facilities required for demolition. Further information will be published as part of the Environmental Statement and submitted with the hybrid Bill later this year.

Inland Waterways: Freight

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of inland waterways for freight movements.

Robert Goodwill: The Department supports the shift of freight from road to inland waterways, primarily through the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme. This can assist companies with the operating costs of transporting freight by inland waterway or rail, where this is more expensive than road and where there are environmental benefits to be gained.

M180

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the slip road onto the M180 was closed at Scunthorpe on 31 October 2013; for what reason such closure was not posted on the A15 and other approach routes; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Goodwill: The eastbound entry slip road at junction 4 was closed between the hours of 8 pm and 6 am from 29 to 31 October 2013, and similarly at junction 5, the westbound entry slip road was closed from 31 October to 2 November 2013, to enable carriageway resurfacing works to be carried out.
	Advisory signing was deployed within the locality of junction 4 and junction 5 in the week prior to the works. The agency also issued a road works press release on 25 October 2013 and undertook a letter drop to residents.
	The agency does not normally place signing on local roads for short duration closures, given the practicality of erecting multiple advisory road signs and the associated costs. However, the signage for the agreed diversion routes was also implemented during the closures.

Motor Vehicles: Lighting

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to reduce the inappropriate use of rear fog lights by motorists; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Goodwill: The use of rear fog lamps is controlled by the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended, which sets the conditions under which the lamps may be used. Modern vehicles are designed to help prevent drivers inadvertently leaving the rear fog lamps illuminated; such as automatically switching off when all other lamps are extinguished and then to remain off until deliberately switched on again. Alternatively an audible warning may be given if the driver leaves the vehicle with the rear fog lamps illuminated.
	Guidance on the correct use of fog lamps is provided in the Highway Code and I consider that the current provisions are sufficiently robust. Enforcement of road traffic law is a matter for the police.

Motorcycles: Cumbria

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths and serious injuries occurred to motorcyclists as a result of road accidents in Cumbria in each of the last five years, on each type of road.

Robert Goodwill: The number of reported motorcycle casualties in Cumbria by area and road type for year of the last five years is given following table:
	
		
			 Number of casualties 
			  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			  Killed Seriously injured Killed Seriously injured Killed Seriously injured Killed Seriously injured Killed Seriously injured 
			 Urban           
			 A roads 0 10 0 5 0 1 0 2 0 6 
			 B roads 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Other roads(1) 0 6 0 3 0 5 2 6 0 3 
			            
			 Rural           
			 A roads 4 35 1 48 3 32 5 15 6 22 
			 B roads 0 5 0 6 0 6 1 6 1 8 
			 Other roads(1) 0 13 1 8 0 10 0 10 2 8 
			            
			 Total           
			 A roads 4 45 1 53 3 33 5 17 6 28 
			 B roads 0 6 0 6 0 7 1 6 1 8 
			 Other roads(1) 0 19 1 11 0 15 2 16 2 11 
			            
			 Motorways 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 
			            
			 All Roads 4 71 3 71 3 55 8 41 9 47 
			 (1) Includes “C” and “Unclassified” roads 
		
	
	Data for 2013 will be available in June 2014.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities have used the powers given to them in February 2011 to implement local bans on parking on pavements.

Robert Goodwill: This information is not held centrally. The enforcement of parking on the footway (pavement) is the responsibility of local traffic authorities in areas that have civil parking enforcement powers and a matter for the police in areas that do not.

Qualifications

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people employed by his Department hold a (a) bachelor's, (b) master's and (c) PhD-level degree in computer science; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not hold data relating to qualifications held by employees. It would not be possible for the Department of Transport to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate costs.

Road Signs and Markings

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the potential benefits of standardising road signage systems in the EU.

Robert Goodwill: No such assessment has been made. Most traffic sign designs across Europe, including the United Kingdom, are based on international standards set in the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals 1968.

Roads: Accidents

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made an assessment of the relationship between (a) changes to the number and funding of reductions to road safety grants and (b) the number of people killed and seriously injured in road traffic accidents between 2010 and 2013.

Robert Goodwill: The Department as not made any formal assessment of the relationship between (a) changes to the number and funding of reductions to road safety grants and (b) the number of people killed and seriously injured in road traffic accidents between 2010 and 2013.
	However, the number of people killed in reported road traffic accidents decreased from 1,850 in 2010 to 1,754 in 2012. The number of people seriously injured in reported road traffic accidents in Great Britain increased from 22,660 in 2010 to 23,039 in 2012. The number of casualties in 2010 were affected by heavy snowfall during the year which would led to fewer accidents than might have been expected had the weather been more typical.
	Statistics for 2013 will be available in June 2014.

South West Trains

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the total network grant was paid by Network Rail to South West Trains in each year since 2009-10.

Stephen Hammond: The Network Grant is a sum of money from the Department to Network Rail which is not allocated to specific parts of the rail network, nor is it paid to franchised train operators.
	There is no recognised rule for allocating the Network Grant across franchises. However, the Department for Transport (DFT) does publish an indication of how it may be distributed across the train operators. This is calculated by taking the total Network Grant, apportioned according to each franchise's share of fixed track access charges, charged by Network Rail to run trains on the network:
	http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/cp4-pl-fixedtrackchargessched181208.pdf
	A breakdown by operator is available on the DFT website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-subsidy-per-passenger-mile

UK Border Force

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he or his officials of his Department have had with their counterparts in the Home Office on including passengers travelling by private flights (general aviation) or private boats (general maritime) to the UK in the Border Force's operating mandate.

Robert Goodwill: No discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Transport or his officials in relation to the UK Border Force's operating mandate in relation to either the general aviation or maritime sectors. The Home Office is responsible for policy on border security. Border Force is a law enforcement command within the Home Office responsible for securing the UK border by carrying out immigration and customs controls for people and goods entering the UK.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants were employed in (a) May 2010 and (b) the most recent period for which data is available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated November 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants were employed in (a) May 2010 and (b) the most recent period for which data are available. (175142)
	Estimates of Civil Service employment are published quarterly in March, June, September and December, by the Office for National Statistics on the National Statistics website. Data are not available for May 2010. The data provided refer to the survey reference dates as at 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2013.
	The number of people employed by home Civil Service departments was 522,000 in June 2010 and 450,000 in June 2013. Home Civil Service excludes employees in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire of 30 October 2013, Official Report, column 490W, on High Speed 2 railway line, whether the update referred to in the answer will include the full test of the Major Projects Authority Report on High Speed 2; and if he will bring forward the publication date of that update.

Francis Maude: In line with the Government's transparency policy the next Annual Report on major projects will be published in May 2014. It will include an overview of the Government Major Projects Portfolio, including data from the second quarter of the 2013-14 financial year. Departments will publish detailed information on each of their projects including RAG ratings, financial information and schedules. Project Assurance Reports are not included in the Annual Report.

Job Creation

Julie Hilling: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new jobs created in the period from (a) May 2010 to April 2011 and (b) May 2011 to April 2012 lasted for more than 12 months.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated November 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your how many new jobs created in the period from (a) May 2010 to April 2011 and (b) May 2011 to April 2012 lasted for more than 12 months. 175173
	Information regarding the number of jobs created is not available. As an alternative, ONS usually provides estimates relating to the net change in the number of people in employment are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Unfortunately the requested information on duration of employment is not available from the LFS Questions on the LFS focus on the length of time employed with current employer and not how long any previous or current job did or is expected to last.

Qualifications

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people employed by (a) his Department, (b) the Office of the Prime Minister, (c) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and (d) the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons hold a (i) bachelor's, (ii) master's and (iii) PhD-level degree in computer science; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: This information is not held centrally.

Statistics

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of public statistics.

Nick Hurd: Responsibility for independently assessing and monitoring the quality of official statistics lies with the UK Statistics Authority.
	Cabinet Office Ministers meet the chair of the UK Statistics Authority and the national statistician regularly to discuss statistical matters.

Youth Work

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate the annual change in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in professional youth work since 2010.

Nick Hurd: Further to my answer of 17 October 2013, Official Report, column 865W, my Department took over responsibility for youth policy in July 2013. I have commissioned a review of the quality and quantity of existing youth provision and will update the House further once it concludes.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Argentina

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the UK plans to vote against further World Bank loans to Argentina (a) in December 2013 and (b) for the foreseeable future.

Justine Greening: Earlier in the year, I instructed the UK's representatives at the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank to vote against all new proposals for financial support to the Government of the Republic of Argentina presented by these institutions, while reserving the right to support proposals that can demonstrate exceptional benefits to the poorest people of Argentina. I have not changed my position on this.

Developing Countries: Job Creation

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects her Department funds to support job and employment creation (a) generally, (b) for young people and (c) for women.

Justine Greening: DFID undertakes projects to generate economic opportunities for poor people in all countries where we work. One example is DFID's support to the Katalyst project in Bangladesh, which has worked with 900,000 farmers and rural small businesses.
	Examples of projects specifically benefitting youth and women include giving education-deprived youth in South Sudan practical livelihood skills and in Somalia providing market-oriented skills training and small grants to 2,500 small and medium enterprises run by women.

Procurement

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's top 20 contractors, by value, were on projects in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2012-13.

Justine Greening: DFID's top 20 contractors by value for financial year 2010-11 and 2012-13 are listed as follows.
	Financial year 2010-11
	ABT Associates Inc.
	Adam Smith International
	BMB Mott MacDonald
	British Council
	Cambridge Education
	Coffey International Development Ltd
	Crown Agents
	GRM International
	Health Partners International
	HLSP Ltd
	HTSPE Ltd
	IMC Worldwide Ltd
	KPMG
	London School of Economics and Political Science
	Malaria Consortium
	NRI Ltd
	Options Consultancy Svs
	PricewaterhouseCoopers
	Society for Family Health
	Trademark East Africa
	Financial year 2012-13
	ABT Associates Inc.
	Adam Smith International Ltd
	ATOS Consulting Ltd
	BMB Mott MacDonald
	British Council
	Cambridge Education Ltd
	Coffey International Development Ltd
	Crown Agents Govts and Admin
	GRM International Ltd
	Health Partners International
	HLSP Ltd
	HTSPE Ltd
	London School of Economics and Political Science
	Malaria Consortium
	Marie Stopes International
	Maxwell Stamp plc
	Options Consultancy Services Ltd
	Oxford Policy Management
	PricewaterhouseCoopers
	Voluntary Service Overseas

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Energy Companies Obligation

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost to energy companies of the energy company obligation since 1 January 2013.

Gregory Barker: On 21 October, the Department published hard figures on the cost energy companies have been incurring in delivering the energy company obligation (ECO). These figures suggest that the cost to companies of delivering the obligation so far are in line with the central scenario in the DECC impact assessment for ECO of around £1.3 billion per annum.
	This publication is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-company-obligation-eco-delivery-costs

Energy: Prices

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the cost of (a) decarbonisation of the UK’s energy supplies and (b) consumer bills as a result.

Gregory Barker: The Climate Change Act 2008 requires that UK territorial emissions are reduced by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050. The cost and benefit of meeting this were set out in the accompanying impact assessment.
	The Prices and Bills Impact Report, published in March 2013, provides the estimated impact of current and firmly planned policies on energy prices and bills to 2030 and is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/172923/130326_-_Price_and_Bill_Impacts_Report_Final.pdf

Environment Protection: Taxation

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what targets his Department has been set by the Prime Minister for savings on the cost of average dual fuel energy bills following the conclusion of the review of green levies.

Michael Fallon: This Government is committed to ensuring consumers have the lowest possible bills. Further details of the outcome and scope of the review of the green levies will be announced at the time of the autumn statement.

Fuel Poverty: North East

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people in the North East were living in fuel poverty in each of the last three years.

Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty is measured at a household level. The following table shows the number of households in fuel poverty, in the North East of England, over the last three years for which data are published.
	
		
			  Households in the North East of England 
			  Number of fuel poor households (thousand) Proportion of households that are fuel poor (percentage) 
			 2009 169 15 
			 2010 162 14 
			 2011 142 12 
		
	
	In July the Government announced its intention to adopt the new Low Income High Costs (LIHC) indicator of fuel poverty, based on the recommendations from Professor Hills' independent review. The above figures are based on this LIHC measure of fuel poverty.
	Under the LIHC indicator a household is considered fuel poor if they have above average fuel costs and were they to spend that amount on fuel, they would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line.
	The latest year of available data is for 2011, and it is anticipated that figures for 2012 will be published in summer 2014. Tables are published as DECC statistics at the link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trends-in-fuel-poverty-england-2003-to-2011

Office for Nuclear Regulation

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Office for Nuclear Regulation on its programme of stakeholder engagement; and whether (a) any Ministers or officials of his Department and (b) officials from other bodies responsible for aspects of nuclear regulation have been invited to attend such stakeholder meetings since the stakeholder forum was inaugurated.

Michael Fallon: Discussions between the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) regarding the ONR's stakeholder engagement activities take place in the context of specific projects. DECC Ministers and officials are regularly invited to attend the annual ONR CEO Conference. I have asked ONR to respond to the hon. Gentleman on other invitees to its events.

Plutonium

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the prospective use of plutonium currently stockpiled at Sellafield in MOX fuel in the planned EPR reactor at Hinkley.

Michael Fallon: The Government's policy on plutonium management was set out in our consultation response of December 2011. It is the Government's preferred option that currently stored plutonium should be converted into MOX fuel and utilised in the next generation of nuclear reactors, yet to be built. This is a long-term aim. Actual use of MOX in Hinkley or any other new build reactors would need to be subject to commercial negotiations with the operators concerned.

WALES

Magistrates Courts

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice regarding the proposed closure of the Neath Port Talbot Magistrates Court; and if he will make a statement.

David Jones: I have regular discussions with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) on a range of matters affecting Wales.
	A consultation on the proposed closure of the Neath magistrates court opened on 26 September 2013 and closed on 7 November 2013. The responses to this consultation will now be fully considered before any decision is taken.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Absenteeism

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the rates of staff (a) absence and (b) sickness absence in his Department in each of the past five years were; and what the departmental targets were in each case.

Brandon Lewis: The average working days lost due to sickness in the last five years is shown in the following table.
	For the 12 month period ending March 2013, the Department's absence rate was 6.3 average working days lost per member of staff. This is lower than the civil service average of 7.7 days, the public services sector average of 8.7 days and private sector average of 7.2 days in organisations of an equivalent size to the Department (1,000 to 4,999 employees—figures from the October 2013 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development annual absence management survey).
	The Department does not set annual targets but compares absence rates to those in the civil service, wider public and the private sector.
	
		
			 Year ending Average working days lost 
			 March 2009 5.3 
			 March 2010 4.9 
			 March 2011 6.4 
			 March 2012 6.4 
			 March 2013 6.3 
		
	
	Ialso refer the hon. Member to my answer of 15 April 2013, Official Report, column 222W, on the steps we are taking to reduce such absence.
	I would observe when the hon. Member was a special adviser in the predecessor to this Department (then the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions), the average working days lost figures were 7.0 in 2001 rising to 7.7 in 2002.

Emergencies: Planning

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what support and guidance is provided by his Department to local communities in drawing up emergency resilience plans.

Brandon Lewis: The 38 local resilience forums in England are responsible for the production of the local community risk register and associated plans. The Resilience and Emergencies Division in my Department supports resilience planning by acting as the interface between national and local level in emergency planning and response. The division works closely with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office and other Government Departments with leads for aspects of resilience policy to provide guidance to local resilience forums in England.

Fire Services: South West

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual budget is of each fire and rescue brigade in the South West.

Brandon Lewis: The setting of annual budgets is a local matter for each fire and rescue authority. However my Department does publish expenditure and financing information for all local authorities, including for fire and rescue authorities, which is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2013-to-2014-individual-local-authority-data

Housing: Construction

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were started on (a) brownfield and (b) greenfield sites in each year from 2002 to 2012.

Kris Hopkins: Statistics on the proportion of new dwellings on previously developed land in England for each year to 2010 are published in the Department's live table P211 which is available at the following link.
	http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-land-use-change-statistics

Housing: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will list the total number of new dwellings completed by (a) councils, (b) housing associations and (c) private sector for each year since 2008-09 in each London borough.

Kris Hopkins: Statistics on house building completions by tenure in each London borough are published in the Department's live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link:
	http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building
	Taken together, the housing association and local authority tenures provide estimates of total social housing completions, but these figures mostly understate total affordable supply. This is because the house building figures are categorised by the type of developer rather than the intended final tenure, leading to under recording of affordable housing, and a corresponding over recording of private enterprise figures.
	More comprehensive statistics on affordable housing completions funded by the Homes and Communities Agency and the Greater London Authority since 2009-10 by tenure are available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/affordable-housing-starts-and-completions-funded-by-the-hca-and-the-gla-2012-to-2013
	These statistics include both newly built housing and acquisitions but exclude delivery of affordable housing not funded by the Homes and Communities Agency and Greater London Authority programmes that are reported in local authority returns to the Department. A fuller picture of all affordable housing completions is published in the Department's live tables 1000, 1006, 1007 and 1008, which are available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply

Non-domestic Rates

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of total business rates revenues was collected from businesses with a rateable value between (a) £6,001 and £12,000 and (b) 12,001 and £18,000.

Brandon Lewis: This information is not held centrally.
	Whilst the Valuation Office Agency holds information on the Rateable Value of individual hereditaments, bills and rate relief are administered by local billing authorities.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities impose the highest car parking charges in towns and cities in the UK.

Brandon Lewis: We do not hold the information in the form requested.
	We have been consulting on a proposed revision to the local government Transparency Code which will increase the amount of available information and open data on car park charging practices, and so allow the press and public to hold councils to account and make comparisons on car park charging.

Peel Holdings

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what grants and loans have been made by his Department and the bodies for which it is responsible to projects in which Peel Holdings is a significant beneficiary in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The European Regional Development Fund North West Operational programme 2007-13 has directly contracted with Peel Holdings approving a grant of £1,506,379 to West Float Land Remediation project.
	The project has remediated 11ha (27.2 acres) of contaminated, derelict and vacant land situated in West Float, Birkenhead, part of the Wirral Docklands Regional Development Site.
	Peel Holdings has not been an applicant or significant beneficiary of any other project funded through the European Regional Development Fund North West Operational programme during the last five years.

Public Sector Relocation Independent Review

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much Sir Michael Lyons was paid in total in salary, fees and related expenses for the Lyons Review in 2004.

Nicky Morgan: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	No Government related reviews into public sector relocation by Sir Michael Lyons were published in either 2007 or 2013. For the 2004 review in to public sector relocation, Sir Michael Lyons received remuneration of £40,000 excluding VAT, and expenses of £6,000.

Redundancy

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff were made redundant from non-departmental public bodies accountable to his Department in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and how many redundancy payments were made in lieu of notice.

Brandon Lewis: DCLG is on track to deliver administrative savings of £231 million over the spending period due to the reform of its arm's length bodies. These savings are related to staff and budget reductions and additionally arm's length bodies adopting a more commercial approach. Since April 2011 the Department has reduced its overall number from 16 to eight due to closure or reform.
	As a result of closure and reform a number of the staff received payments in lieu of notice that were agreed in exceptional circumstances for a variety of reasons including the inability of staff to serve contractual notice periods and the absence of work for them to do,
	It is unacceptable and irregular to me, taxpayers, and the National Audit Office for arm's length bodies to award payments in lieu of notice to themselves without proper agreement where the need for payment could have been avoided.
	A report was recently published by the Department following an investigation by the Cross Departmental Internal Audit Services into the use of public funds by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation following its closure in October 2012.
	A copy of this report can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-of-an-investigation-into-the-use-of-public-funds-by-thurrock-thames-gateway-corporation
	The Department's executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies have provided the following information in respect of payments in lieu of notice:
	
		
			 Agencies 
			 Non-departmentpublic bodies Number of redundancies Number of payments in lieu of notice 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Planning Inspectorate(1) 76 0 19 0 0 8 
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Figures include those for the Infrastructure Planning Commission 
		
	
	
		
			 Current non-departmental public bodies 
			 Non-department public bodies Number of redundancies Number of payments in lieu of notice 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Homes and Communities Agency(1) 16 264 37 0 0 1 
			 Independent Housing Ombudsman Ltd 0 0 3 0 0 1 
			 Leasehold Advisory Service 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Valuation Tribunal Service 22 0 0 6 0 0 
			 West Northamptonshire Development Corporation 7 5 2 7 5 2 
			 Audit Commission 414 275 215 68 26 6 
			 Architects' Registration Board 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Local Government Ombudsman 3 2 34 0 0 0 
			 (1) Figures include those for the Tenant Services Authority in 2012-13 
		
	
	
		
			 Closed/reformed non-departmental public bodies 
			 Non-department public bodies Number of redundancies Number of payments in lieu of notice 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Standards Board for England(1) 33 35 n/a — — n/a 
			 London Thames Gateway Development Corporation(1) 2 0 15 — — — 
			 Firebuy(1) 5 9 n/a — — n/a 
			 Fire Service College(1) 0 13 0 — — — 
			 Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation 10 5 6 0 1 6 
			 (1) Figures for these bodies are taken from each organisation's published accounts. Figures for any additional payments in lieu of notice were not recorded separately in the accounts and cannot now be identified.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Benefit

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has taken steps to make parents aware that, following the recent changes to child benefits, if they elect not to receive that benefit, they could lose their future national insurance carer's credit.

Sajid Javid: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Chris Leslie), on 18 January 2013, Official Report, column 985W, on ‘National Insurance Credits’.

Children: Maintenance

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish an update on his Department's plans to develop and test an arrears segmentation approach in respect of child maintenance arrears combining a client's willingness and ability to pay with other available data sources, and using the client's history of paying in order to test different communications messages and the effect it has on payment behaviour.

Steve Webb: We are currently testing different communication interventions and the effect they have on payment behaviour. These interventions are looking at clients' willingness and ability to pay.
	Trialling began in April 2013, and this will conclude in April 2014. If appropriate, we will publish findings from our segmentation approach, successful interventions and lessons learned.

Cold Weather Payments: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will publish (a) the recorded average temperatures used for the calculation of cold weather payments at the weather station at Mona, Ynys Môn, for each week of the last five years and (b) the average temperature at Bethesda, Arfon, for each week of the last five years;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the difference in recorded temperatures between the weather station at Mona, Ynys Môn and Bethesda in Arfon constituency in relation to the cold weather payment.

Steve Webb: We are unable to provide all of the data for the last five years due to disproportional costs. However, following are the recorded average temperature readings for cold weather payment scheme for the year 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 for the weather station at Mona.
	
		
			 2011-12  
			 Period Average temperature (degrees) 
			 1 November 2011 to 7 November 2011 9.5 
			 8 November 2011 to 14 November 2011 10.6 
			 15 November 2011 to 21 November 2011 8.9 
			 22 November 2011 to 28 November 2011 9.7 
			 29 November 2011 to 5 December 2011 7.4 
		
	
	
		
			 6 December 2011 to 12 December 2011 6.9 
			 13 December 2011 to 19 December 2011 4.4 
			 20 December 2011 to 26 December 2011 8.9 
			 27 December 2011 to 3 January 2012 7.9 
			 4 January 2012 to 10 January 2012 7.8 
			 11 January 2012 to 17 January 2012 4.3 
			 18 January 2012 to 24 January 2012 7.3 
			 25 January 2012 to 31 January 2012 3.5 
			 1 February 2012 to 7 February 2012 1.5 
			 8 February 2012 to 14 February 2012 3.6 
			 15 February 2012 to 21 February 2012 6.0 
			 22 February 2012 to 28 February 2012 8.4 
			 29 February 2012 to 6 March 2012 7.2 
			 7 March 2012 to 13 March 2012 8.4 
			 14 March 2012 to 20 March 2012 7.6 
			 21 March 2012 to 27 March 2012 10.9 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 to 13  
			 Period Average Temperature (Degrees) 
			 1 November 2012 to 7 November 2012 6.3 
			 8 November 2012 to 14 November 2012 8.6 
			 15 November 2012 to 21 November 2012 8.0 
			 22 November 2012 to 28 November 2012 6.1 
			 29 November 2012 to 5 December 2012 3.6 
			 6 December 2012 to 12 December 2012 2.9 
			 13 December 2012 to 19 December 2012 5.2 
			 20 December 2012 to 26 December 2012 7.6 
			 27 December 2012 to 3 January 2013 7.7 
			 4 January 2013 to 10 January 2013 7.4 
			 11 January 2013 to 17 January 2013 1.9 
			 18 January 2013 to 24 January 2013 0.0 
			 25 January 2013 to 31 January 2013 6.3 
			 1 February 2013 to 7 February 2013 4.8 
			 8 February 2013 to 14 February 2013 4.4 
			 15 February 2013 to 21 February 2013 3.9 
			 22 February 2013 to 28 February 2013 2.2 
			 29 February 2013 to 6 March 2013 3.8 
			 7 March 2013 to 13 March 2013 4.4 
			 14 March 2013 to 20 March 2013 4.0 
			 21 March 2012 to 27 March 2013 2.1 
		
	
	
		
			 2013-14  
			 Period Average temperature (degrees) 
			 1 November 2013 to 7 November 2013 7.8 
		
	
	The Met Office does not have a weather station located in Bethesda, Arfon to provide comparable data.

Disability Living Allowance

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time between an application for disability living allowance and the award.

Michael Penning: There is an ongoing focus on improving the service provided to customers and active management of disability living allowance claims, this is alongside the roll out of the personal independence payment (PIP) from 1 April 2013.
	Disability living allowance delivery and processes are regularly reviewed and improvement initiated across the customer journey.

Disability Living Allowance

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving disability living allowance will be reassessed for that allowance between October and December 2013 in each postcode highlighted in his Department's Quick Guide to Personal Independence Payments, updated on 28 October 2013.

Michael Penning: National estimates for the number of reassessments we expect to be carried out each quarter are quoted in the 'Personal Independence Payment—Reassessments and Impacts' briefing note, which can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/180964/pip-reassessments-and-impacts.pdf
	This document has not been updated yet, following the decision to use a controlled roll out of reassessment to certain postcodes on 28 October, as we plan to update it following the autumn statement. However, we estimate that the postcodes included in the Department's Quick Guide to PIP will account for a quarter of the estimated reassessment volumes.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on Universal Jobs Match in 2012-13.

Esther McVey: Universal jobmatch makes it easier and quicker for claimants to jobsearch, and get back to work. Jobcentre Plus advisers are able to review a universal jobmatch account (with permission from the claimant) and look at the claimant's CV and application history. As a result, advisers can give a tailored high quality support service to claimants who agree to give them access, helping claimants to optimise their CVs and identify any skills gaps.
	Universal jobmatch provides employers with an enhanced online recruitment service, automatically matching employers' jobs to suitable jobseekers and ranking the results based on how closely jobseekers match the search requirements described by the company. This helps speed up the whole recruitment process.
	Employers have the facility to set up and manage their own online accounts, at a time to suit them, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
	The cost of universal jobmatch from September 2012 to September 2013 to the Department is as follows:
	The DWP spending to date for universal jobmatch in the financial year April 2012 to March 2013 was £9.34 million (this is a mixture of staff and information systems/information technology costs).
	The ongoing estimated full year annual cost of universal jobmatch is £5.7 million (excluding estimates for future inflation). This cost includes future payments to Monster.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to control the quality of the Universal Jobs Match service.

Esther McVey: The service performance for universal jobmatch is regularly monitored by a dedicated team within DWP, supported by MI as part of the service delivery arrangements.
	DWP has also commissioned further Insight work which will provide future recommendations to improve the service as part of a continuous improvement process.
	DWP and the providers (Monster) have an agreed request for change process and there have been many enhancements made to the service since go live and further enhancements to be made in the near future which will improve the customer experience for all users.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has commissioned or undertaken into employment support programmes in other countries for people with ill-health.

Esther McVey: The Department has commissioned a review of international research evidence of what works to help disabled people and people with health conditions into employment. The report will be published shortly alongside the health and disability employment strategy.
	In 2012, the Department published a report reviewing evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to help employees with common health conditions stay in work or return to work from sickness absence. A copy of the report, DWP Research Report 812, is available online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/quantifying-the-effectiveness-of-interventions-for-people-with-common-health-conditions-in-enabling-them-to-stay-in-or-return-to-work-rr812

Jobcentre Plus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average caseload of a Jobcentre Plus advisor was in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mesothelioma

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on compensation for people with mesothelioma.

Michael Penning: I, as Minister for Disabled People, met with representatives of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health on the 15 October 2013 and with representatives of the Asbestos Victims Support Group on 5 November 2013 to discuss the Mesothelioma Bill currently before Parliament. The Mesothelioma Bill relates to people who contracted mesothelioma due to negligent exposure to asbestos at work and they are unable to trace their employer or employers' liability insurer.
	In addition, the Asbestos Victim Support Group has shared their campaign literature encouraging the Minister to review the level of tariff payments for mesothelioma sufferers resulting from the Bill.
	In relation to mesothelioma cases in which there is an identified employer or insurer, the Government published its consultation paper “Reforming Mesothelioma Claims” on 24 July 2013. Proposals seek to ensure that compensation is paid fairly and quickly, where necessary.
	The consultation closed on 2 October 2013 with 105 responses received by the Ministry of Justice from a wide range of interested parties, including mesothelioma victims groups, claimant lawyers and the insurance industry. The Ministry of Justice are carefully considering those contributions and plan to publish the response to the consultation by the end of the year.

Personal Independence Payment

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who were in receipt of disability living allowance have been re-assessed for personal independence payment since 8 April 2013; and what percentage of the forecast figure this is.

Michael Penning: Reassessment of existing DLA claimants began on 28 October 2013 in Wales, West and East Midlands and East Anglia.
	As Reassessment only began on 28 October 2013 the figures requested are not yet available.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether financial or other penalties will be imposed on those companies contracted to carry out the assessment process for the personal independence payment as a result of the delay to the national rollout.

Michael Penning: We have announced that changes to the rollout of personal independence payment (PIP) are because we are introducing PIP in a controlled manner, learning lessons from the live environment to ensure we get this right. This approach is in line with the way we have been introducing all our other programmes of change. New claims to PIP began in April in a controlled start area and were extended nationally across Great Britain in June.
	We continue to take new claims to PIP across Great Britain and on 28 October 2013 we started the natural reassessment phase with both Atos and Capita, inviting some existing DLA recipients living in Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands and East Anglia to claim PIP.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of disability living allowance living in areas other than Wales, the midlands and East Anglia received notification that they would be reassessed for personal independence payment before the announcement of the delay to the national roll-out.

Michael Penning: Every disability living allowance (DLA) claimant received some general information about personal independence payment (PIP) in their annual uprating letters during February and March. This letter made it clear to DLA claimants that they did not need to contact the Department about PIP, that DWP would contact them again about claiming PIP but ensured that they were made aware of the plans to introduce the new benefit and how they might be affected.
	In addition, approximately 14,400 letters have been issued to claimants approaching their 16th birthday. These letters tell the parent/guardian that the young person will need to claim PIP at 16 and that DWP will write to them to explain how to do this. It makes it clear that PIP cannot be claimed until 16 and that we will make sure DLA payments continue while we decide if they are entitled to PIP.
	During the initial phase of natural reassessment, any child receiving DLA in Wales, west midlands, east midlands and East Anglia (approximately 23% of the case load) will receive an invitation to claim PIP soon after their 16th birthday. Children receiving DLA outside of those areas of scope will receive a letter and DLA claim pack to either renew their DLA or review their entitlement.

Personal Independence Payment

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the costs of assessing transport to personal independence payment assessment centres are borne by Atos under their contractor or paid separately by his Department.

Michael Penning: Personal independence payment (PIP) assessment providers are required to pay claimants' travelling expenses in line with guidance issued by the Department. These costs are not passed through to the Department directly.
	The Department pays an output fee per assessment and the assessment providers were required to offer output fees which reflected all of their costs when they bid for the contracts at the tender stage.

Personal Independence Payment

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances those attending personal independence payment centres have their transport costs paid.

Michael Penning: Where it is necessary for a claimant to travel to a face-to-face consultation, they are able to claim travel expenses for themselves and a companion or carer, or young children who would otherwise be left unattended.
	Payments are made for public transport fares, travel by private motor vehicle and in some circumstances, where prior approval has been given by the assessment provider, taxi fares. Payments relating to other costs related to the journey such as parking, tolls or congestion charges can also be met.
	The assessment providers are required to reimburse these expenses within 14 calendar days of the claim.

Personal Independence Payment: South East

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many present adult claimants of disability living allowance live within the catchment of each personal independence payment consultation centre serving South and East England; and what the longest journey in miles is to each such centre.

Michael Penning: The Department does not hold data on the current number of adult claimants of disability living allowance broken down by the personal independence payment (PIP) consultation centres provided by Atos Healthcare—the assessment provider in Lot 3 (London and Southern England). DWP has set a clear requirement that claimants travel no more than 90 minutes (single journey) by public transport, to their consultation—this figure is an absolute maximum and for most claimants their journey will be less than this.

Personal Independence Payment: South East

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which of the 21 personal independence payment consultation centres serving south and east England are not wheelchair-accessible.

Michael Penning: All sites must be compliant with the Equality Act 2010, with suitable ground floor accommodation available.

Personal Independence Payment: Stirling

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when young people in Stirling constituency who are currently in receipt of disability living allowance will be re-assessed for personal independence payment.

Michael Penning: Reassessment of existing DLA claimants started in a limited geographic area from 28 October. Further details of where and when reassessment activity will commence will be taken and published in due course in line with legislative requirements.

Personal Independence Payment: Terminal Illnesses

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the timescale is for decisions for people with terminal illnesses who apply for personal independence payments under the Special Rules procedures.

Michael Penning: Although personal independence payment is a new benefit, and the Department does not have a target for completion of claims whilst processes are bedding in, we do deal urgently with special rules claims for terminally ill claimants.

Personal Independence Payment: Young People

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people currently in receipt of disability living allowance will be re-assessed for the personal independence payment in the three months from 7 October 2013 in the postcode areas highlighted in the Quick Guide to Personal Independence Payments, updated on 28 October 2013.

Michael Penning: National estimates for the number of reassessments we expect to be carried out each quarter are quoted in the 'Personal Independence Payment—Reassessments and Impacts' briefing note, which can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/180964/pip-reassessments-and-impacts.pdf
	This document has not been updated yet, following the decision to use a controlled of reassessment to certain postcodes on 28 October, as we plan to update it following the autumn statement. However, we estimate that around 8,500 DLA recipients reach age 16 in each three month period across Great Britain (34,000 each year). We also estimate that the postcodes included in the Department's Quick Guide to PIP will account for a quarter of the estimated reassessment volumes.

Refuges: Females

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the extension of the single accommodation rate to people aged up to 35 years old on the ability of women fleeing domestic violence to move on from a refuge; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Extending the shared accommodation rate to single people aged up to 35 encourages people claiming benefits to make the same choices about their accommodation as people not claiming benefits, many of whom share.
	The shared accommodation rate does not apply to claimants with dependent children or those living in social and third sector supported housing.
	In most areas outside inner London, around 30% of shared accommodation is affordable within LHA rates, so there is no reason people should be left without somewhere to live.
	For people who require further support, we are providing £180 million in locally administered discretionary housing payments this year.
	The Department has commissioned a major independent review of the changes to local housing allowance. The final report is due to be published next year.

Sick Leave

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working days were lost owing to (a) anxiety, (b) depression and (c) stress in each year for which data is available.

Michael Penning: Data is not captured at a sufficiently detailed enough level to determine the number of working days lost each year due to: (a) anxiety; (b) depression; and (c) stress.
	We acknowledge, however, that employment rates for people with depression, anxiety and other common mental health problems are relatively low. This is why the Government is exploring new integrated approaches across the mental health and employment system.

Social Security Benefits

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken between a decision to award a benefit and the start of payments.

Esther McVey: There is an ongoing focus on the service provided to customers, for all benefits streams. This includes the time taken from the date of claim to award of benefit, and through to payment. Benefit delivery processes are regularly reviewed and improvement initiated as appropriate.

Social Security Benefits

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time is between an application for (a) disability living allowance and (b) personal independence payment and the setting of a date for an assessment.

Michael Penning: DLA is a self assessed benefit and does not have a formal assessment process as PIP does and only a proportion of DLA new claims are referred for a medical examination. The average clearance time for a new DLA claim under normal rules is 31.6 days.
	PIP introduced an assessment undertaken by assessment providers and although limited data has started to feed through, we need to wait until the Department has quality assured, meaningful figures for publication. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend to publish Official Statistics on personal independence payment from spring 2014.
	In order to manage the gap between personal independence payment go-live and the first release of Official Statistics in spring 2014, we are assessing whether we can release some management information. If the quality assurance of this management information shows that it is sufficiently robust and reliable then we aim to publish it via an ad-hoc statistical release.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what period he chaired the Senior Sponsorship Group responsible for the oversight of the universal credit programme.

Esther McVey: I can confirm that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), chaired the Senior Sponsorship Group (SSG) from May 2011 to October 2012. He continues to chair the Universal Credit Ministerial Oversight Group, which superseded the SSG.

Universal Credit: Hammersmith and Fulham

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department records the nationality of new claimants of universal credit in Hammersmith and Fulham; and if his Department will publish all data it records on the nationality of such claimants.

Esther McVey: Universal credit is at present only available to British citizens and, therefore, no data is held regarding the nationality of universal credit claimants.

Vaccination: Compensation

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the operation of the Government’s Vaccine Damage Payment scheme; and if he will publish the results of that assessment.

Michael Penning: There has been no recent assessment of the Vaccine Damage Payment scheme.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Bank Services: Fees and Charges

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount consumers spend on bank fees and charges.

Jo Swinson: On 25 January 2013, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) published a review of the personal current account market in the UK. This included the OFTs analysis of the amount consumers spend on bank fees and charges and how these had changed since the OFT's market study of the personal current account market in 2008.
	The key findings from the OFT's review was that there has been a significant reduction in the level of overdraft charges overall. The OFT estimates that there have been consumer savings of between £388 million and £928 million since the OFT carried out its market study in 2008. During this period, unarranged overdraft revenues fell substantially, and despite increased revenues from arranged overdrafts and debit interest, there is still a substantial saving for consumers.
	The OFT review of the personal current account market found that there has been a substantial reduction in unarranged overdraft charges since 2007. Total revenue to personal current account providers from arranged and unarranged lending has fallen by £507 million overall (in 2011 prices).
	The OFT’s full review of the personal current account market can be found at:
	http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/reports/financial_products/OFT1005rev
	Of particular interest will be chapter 5, including figures 5.6 and 5.8.

EU External Trade: USA

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether a Cabinet sub-committee has been established to co-ordinate the Government's approach to the proposed transatlantic trade and investment partnership.

Michael Fallon: Along with other EU trade negotiations, TTIP falls within the remit of the European Affairs Committee. No new subcommittee has been established to deal solely with the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

EU External Trade: USA

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms for co-ordinating the UK's approach to the proposed transatlantic trade and investment partnership have been put in place within government.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is the lead Department within Government for all EU trade deals. We work closely with other Government Departments, including the Cabinet Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Officials leading the UK work on transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP) meet regularly with the relevant Ministers, including the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint), and the Minister without Portfolio, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke).
	The Prime Minister's Adviser on EU and Global Issues (outgoing Ivan Rogers, incoming Tom Scholar) chairs a regular strategy meeting of senior level officials from all relevant Departments, and BIS also convenes regular working level meetings. Where cross-Government policy clearance is required, TTIP work falls under the remit of the European Affairs Committee of Cabinet.

EU External Trade: USA

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration his Department has given to investor-state dispute settlement, as detailed within the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Pact.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned academic research into the impact of investor-state dispute settlement within the context of wider investment protection treaties. This research is intended to inform the UK position with regard to the upcoming investment treaties being negotiated by the EU.
	The research commissioned included a framework to analyse the costs and benefits of investment protection treaties as a whole and use of the framework to assess the inclusion of investor-state dispute settlement provisions within the proposed EU agreements with China and with the US (the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership). A copy of this research will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

EU External Trade: USA

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  when (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials from his Department last met with the EU negotiating team for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Pact; and whether they discussed investor-state disputes settlement and its potential effect on the national health service;
	(2)  whether he has raised the issue of exemption for the national health service with regard to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Pact, as referred to in the European Commission's impact assessment on the future of EU/US trade relations.

Michael Fallon: The Government has not sought to exclude health services from the scope of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. We have consistently pushed for an ambitious and broad agreement with all issues on the table.
	Officials from the Department met with the EU Chief Negotiator on the TTIP in London on 31 October. The concerns that have been raised about the potential impact of the TTIP on the NHS were discussed, as well as the investor-state disputes settlement.
	The UK has already undertaken some long-standing multilateral level commitments through the general agreement on trade in services (GATS, 1995) on health services, and our position during the TTIP negotiations will be to go no further than our existing obligations.
	The TTIP will not affect the policy that it is for NHS commissioners to take decisions on the competitive tendering of services, in the best interests of their patients, consistent with the NHS procurement, patient choice and competition regulations.

Exports

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 2 September 2013, Official Report, columns 130-31W, on arms trade: exports, and subsequent correspondence, what estimate he has made of the relative sizes of the (a) market share of the exporter of the licence Mindspeed and its UK subsidiary, Picochip, (b) expected addressable market for the combined entity of these companies until 2016, (c) value of the Standard Individual Export Licence (Permanent) for equipment employing cryptography and software for equipment employing cryptography to Israel and (d) total combined value of the UK's annual exports to Israel.

Michael Fallon: We have made no estimate of the market share or expected addressable market for Mindspeed Technologies UK Ltd or any subsidiaries of that company. The maximum potential value of the exports authorised under the licence in question, which was granted in February 2013, is £7.8 billion. Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics show that in 2012 the value of UK exports of goods and services to Israel was £2.4 billion.

Furniture: Intellectual Property

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the level of intellectual property infringement in the UK furniture industry; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to create a criminal offence of deliberate registered design infringement.

David Willetts: The Government are aware that infringement of intellectual property rights can be a significant problem for many UK businesses, for the furniture industry this particularly relates to designs law. In the Government's designs consultation, published in July 2012, many respondents highlighted the problems they faced with infringement of their design rights, and sought changes in the law to provide better deterrents. Although this consultation covered a range of areas, responses specific to the furniture industry were also received. The annual cost of design infringement has been estimated by Anti-Copying in Design and NESTA at £775 million, but it has not been possible to break those figures down by industry sector.
	The Intellectual Property Bill, which is currently awaiting Second Reading in this House, introduces a number of measures to assist businesses in the UK. This includes the introduction of a criminal sanction for the intentional copying of registered designs. It is hoped that this measure will act as a deterrent for those seeking to profit from others' designs.

Green Investment Bank

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish the current salaries paid to (a) each board member and (b) the 10 highest paid senior executives of the Green Investment Bank (GIB); and if he will provide details of (i) how the salaries were benchmarked before being agreed and (ii) what bonus options were included in each contract for GIB senior executives.

Michael Fallon: Full details of the remuneration packages for Green Investment Bank (GIB) Board members and the company's senior management team, including details of pensions, long term incentive plans (LTIP) and other benefits, are set out in the company's annual report. This was published in June 2013 and can be found on the company's website at:
	http://www.greeninvestmentbank.com/who-we-are/governance/annual-report.html
	The relevant data are provided in the report of the Remuneration Committee which also includes an explanation of the principles and policies that underpin the company's approach to remuneration. These recognise the company's unique position as a publicly owned enterprise charged with investing Government money. The report explains that GIB's Board obtained advice from Pricewaterhouse Coopers on development of the company's LTIP scheme and advice from specialist recruitment consultants Odgers Berndtson on levels of remuneration, including advice on the position at comparable businesses. The report also notes that the senior management team are not eligible for awards under the Annual Incentive Plan. Updated salary information is published on GIB's website every six months. Under the company's Articles of Association, all decisions relating to the remuneration of the directors, including that of the chief executive officer, require the prior consent of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) as shareholder.

Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effect of (a) working very long hours, (b) temporary working contracts, (c) caring for the elderly and disabled and (d) personal debt on wellbeing in the UK.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated November 2013
	As Director-General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills asking what assessment he has made of the potential effect of (a) working very long hours, (b) temporary working contracts, (c) caring for the elderly and disabled and (d) personal debt on wellbeing in the UK. (175191).
	We are unable to provide specific information regarding each of the above categories, however, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a report in May 2013 entitled 'Measuring National Well-being—What matters most to Personal Well-being?' This report examines factors which are related to individuals' well-being.
	Self-reported health had the strongest association with all the measures of personal well-being, the second strongest association was employment status and the third was relationship status. People's sense of choice and contentment with their current situation also seem to be related to their levels of personal well-being. For example, it is not just about having a job that matters to personal well-being, but also being content with that job. Permanent employees who wanted a different or additional job had lower levels of life satisfaction, feelings that things were worthwhile, ratings of happiness and increased levels of anxiety on average than those that didn't want a different or additional job. Also, those who are economically inactive and in caring roles but would rather be in paid work have lower personal well-being than people who are working and content with their jobs. The report can be accessed from the following weblink:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/what-matters-most-to-personal-well-being-in-the-uk-/art-what-matters-most-to-personal-well-being-in-the-uk-.html
	In addition, the ONS published a report in June 2013 entitled 'Measuring National Well-being—Self reported financial situation, 2013'. This has information on individuals' feelings about their household financial situation and how this relates to their well-being, but not specifically about personal debt. The report and reference tables are available from the following weblink:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/measuring-national-well-being--self-reported-financial-situation--2013/art-self-reported-financial-situation--2013.html

Insolvency

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the statutory powers available to an insolvency practitioner, as an officer of the court, to compel the disclosure of relevant documents by all parties involved in an administration process; and whether the investigatory powers available to insolvency practitioners to locate relevant documents where possession of said documents are denied by individual parties.

Jo Swinson: An administrator already has the power to request information relating to the affairs of the company from all parties involved in an administration process and those same parties have a duty to provide information and co-operate with the administrator.
	In addition the court can request that any person who has in their possession property, books, papers or records to which the company is entitled, provide them to the administrator.
	I have not been informed of any cases where an administrator has been unable to recover documents that are required to progress an administration.

Students: Loans

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress his Department has made on the creation and implementation of Shariah-compliant student loans for those potential students who cannot make use of the traditional loan system as a result of their religious convictions; and when he expects such a system to be fully operable.

David Willetts: This Department has been working with Islamic banks and Shariah experts to determine whether an alternative finance system of student loans is possible.
	We have identified a number of approaches and will be launching a consultation on an alternative finance product shortly as announced by the Prime Minister during his Eid al-Adha reception speech.
	The timing of the implementation of an alternative finance system will depend on when parliamentary time can be secured for the necessary legislation.

EDUCATION

CAFCASS

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to improve the overall performance of Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.

Edward Timpson: I monitor the performance of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) through quarterly performance meetings with its chair and chief executive. Performance has been improving steadily over recent years, for example 99.8% of live cases nationally now has an allocated guardian, up from 93.1% in 2009/10. CAFCASS is also meeting all its key performance indicators (KPI).
	It is important to maintain the drive towards improvement, and I have recently introduced a fifth KPI, which will monitor the percentage of public law care cases where CAFCASS is cited as the main reason for an adjournment.
	CAFCASS is also inspected by Ofsted, which currently inspects local service areas against a national standard. Ofsted will soon be launching a new national inspection framework for CAFCASS.

CAFCASS

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints have been lodged against Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last 10 years in (a) the UK, (b) East Anglia and (c) South Suffolk constituency.

Edward Timpson: The following table sets out the numbers of complaints lodged against the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) in the relevant areas. The national figures are for England (CAFCASS does not cover Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).
	
		
			  National East Anglia Suffolk 
			 2005/06 132 3 1 
			 2006/07 661 27 11 
			 2007/08 743 27 10 
			 2008/09 1,075 47 12 
			 2009/10 1,264 68 11 
			 2010/11 1,064 66 8 
			 2011/12 1,265 69 12 
			 2012/13 1,495 88 24 
			 2013/14 to date 880 57 5 
		
	
	This information is taken from the CAFCASS national case management system. This is a live system and figures are subject to change as updates are made. The data in the table include both public and private law cases.
	The data are collated at local area team level. Figures for East Anglia are based on the Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire area teams. Figures for Suffolk are based on the Suffolk area team whose boundaries are broadly comparable to those of the Suffolk constituency area.
	The figures show a rising trend in complaints. This reflects the much higher volume of cases being handled together with two other factors—the increased advertising of the complaints service and improvements in the way complaints are recorded and the service is delivered.
	The information requested is only available from 2005/06.

CAFCASS

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many cases Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service has dealt with in each of the last 10 years in (a) the UK, (b) East Anglia and (c) South Suffolk constituency.

Edward Timpson: The following table sets out the numbers of cases completed and closed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) in the relevant areas.
	
		
			  National East Anglia Suffolk 
			 2003/04 21,187 994 201 
			 2004/05 35,919 1,928 383 
			 2005/06 39,026 2,111 527 
			 2006/07 47,296 2,880 768 
			 2007/08 48,664 3,785 603 
			 2008/09 46,456 3,658 691 
			 2009/10 54,093 4,141 709 
			 2010/11 54,739 3,993 624 
			 2011/12 58,925 2,583 459 
			 2012/13 61,732 2,132 420 
			 2013/14 to date 40,555 1,392 251 
		
	
	This information is taken from the CAFCASS national Case Management System. This is a live system and figures are subject to change as updates are made. The data in the table include both public and private law cases.
	The data are collated at local area team level. Figures for East Anglia are based on the Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire area teams. Figures for Suffolk are based on the Suffolk area team whose boundaries are broadly comparable to those of the Suffolk constituency area.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 2 September 2013, Official Report, column 64W, on children: day care, how many of the most disadvantaged 20 per cent of two-year-olds are accessing a free childcare place; and how many such places are available for this group;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the types of childcare provider offering places to disadvantaged two year olds; and how many childminders are offering such places.

Elizabeth Truss: The entitlement to an early learning place for the most disadvantaged 20% of two-year-olds came into force on 1 September. Figures extrapolated from the most recent local authority estimates suggest that by October 2013 around 92,000 children were already in funded places. This equates to 70% of the 130,000 eligible children of the new entitlement, which is great progress.
	Formal data on the number of two-year-olds in funded places will be gathered through the Early Years and Schools Censuses which will take place in January 2014 and will be published in summer 2014. Data on the number of children accessing places at different types of provider is not yet available, but will also be collected through the censuses.

Children: Hyperactivity

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to introduce mandatory screening for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for all pupils who receive two fixed-term exclusions from school; and if he will provide specialist psychiatric, paediatric or healthcare support to all such pupils who are diagnosed with ADHD.

Edward Timpson: There are no plans to introduce automatic screening for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as schools need the flexibility to determine when to assess, based on knowledge of their pupils and close working with other agencies and pupils' families.
	Improving early identification of, and support for, pupils' special educational needs (SEN) is a key aim of the Government's Children and Families Bill. The revised SEN code of practice, which is currently being consulted on, emphasises the importance of schools identifying the underlying causes of behaviour issues, whether or not these require special educational provision. The importance of early assessment of need is also emphasised in the statutory guidance on exclusion, with head teachers being expected to consider the use of multi-agency assessment for pupils who demonstrate persistent disruptive behaviour.
	Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) work with partner agencies, including local authorities and schools, to ensure the best possible outcome for children and young people with ADHD. Additionally, the Children and Young People's project for the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYPIAPT) programme is working to improve access to CAMHS, deliver positive and measurable outcomes and increase the choice and availability of evidence based treatments. This includes support therapies such as Parent Training, which is recommended in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines as first line treatment for mild and moderate ADHD and Systemic Family Practice, which supports conduct problems in older teenagers.

Class Sizes

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were taught in class sizes of greater than 30 in each year since 2010.

David Laws: Information on class sizes, including the percentage of children in classes of greater than 30, was published in tables 6a and 6c of the publication ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2013’, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2013
	The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 limits the size of infant classes only to 30 pupils per school teacher. Additional children may be admitted in exceptional circumstances, for example, looked-after children or children of UK service personnel. This Government is providing capital funding to ensure that there is not a shortfall in primary places. By the end of the current spending review period, the Department will have made over £5 billion in basic need funding available which, at a national level, is enough for the efficient creation of pupil places needed by 2015-16. This will significantly reduce the pressure on infant classes.

Free School Meals

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of school children between the ages of five and 16 years old are eligible for free school meals in (a) the UK, (b) East Anglia and (c) South Suffolk constituency.

David Laws: Free school meal information for pupils in England, East Anglia and South Suffolk constituency for January 2013 is shown in the following tables. This includes pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15, where age is calculated as at 31 August 2012.
	The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals in the rest of the UK is the responsibility of the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and the Department for Education, Northern Ireland.
	
		
			 Maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary schools, special schools and pupil referral units(1, 2, 3, 4, 5): number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals, January 2013, England, East Anglia and South Suffolk constituency 
			  Maintained nursery and state-funded primary schools(1, 2) State-funded secondary schools(1, 3) Special schools(4) 
			 LA code Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals(6, 7) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals(6, 7) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals(6, 7) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 England 776,445 19.2 452,600 16.3 31,655 38.3 
			 East Anglia(8) 26,170 15.5 14,850 12.2 1,036 34.9 
			 South Suffolk Constituency 677 11.5 442 9.1 15 26.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupil referral units(5) Total 
			 LA code Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals(6, 7) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals(6, 7) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 England 5,070 40.1 1,265,770 18.3 
			 East Anglia(8) 145 26.7 42,200 14.3 
			 South Suffolk Constituency 3 50.0 1,135 10.5 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes all primary academies, including free schools. (3) Includes city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools. (4) Excludes general hospital schools. Includes special academies and free schools. (5) Includes pupils in Alternative Provision academies and free schools. (6) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. Includes boarders. In pupil referral units also includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (7) Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (8) East Anglia includes Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk local authorities. Note: Total figures have been rounded to the nearest five to prevent disclosure of small numbers (e.g. when used in conjunction with data held elsewhere) therefore totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts. Source: School Census.

Free Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the process is for closing a free school.

Edward Timpson: A free school is legally an academy. The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove)’s powers to intervene in an underperforming academy or a free school are specified in the funding agreement between the Secretary of State and the academy trust. Closing a school would involve terminating the funding agreement between the Secretary of State and the academy trust, without contracting with another party to run the school. Free school and academy funding agreements are published on the Department for Education's website as a matter of course once the school has opened.

Free Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education where the powers his Department has to direct that the management of a free school be removed or replaced are set out.

Edward Timpson: A free school is legally an academy. The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), powers to intervene in an academy or a free school are specified in the funding agreement between the Secretary of State and the academy trust. Free school and academy funding agreements are published on the Department for Education's website as a matter of course, once the school has opened.
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/

Headteachers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average pay for a headteacher was in (a) academy and (b) other schools in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Laws: Data on average pay of leadership teachers by type of school are available in the publication ‘School workforce in England: November 2012’, Table 9b, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-workforce-in-england-november-2012

Primary Education: Standards

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of primary schools have been rated (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) satisfactory and (d) inadequate by Ofsted in (i) the UK, (ii) East Anglia and (iii) South Suffolk constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Schools: Finance

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2013, Official Report, column 1114W, on free money, how much was returned to his Department after (a) opening of free schools, (b) opening of new sixth forms and (c) opening of all other new institutions within the schools sector following the failure to recruit predicted numbers in the year groups affected in (i) 2011-12 and (ii) 2012-13.

Edward Timpson: A total value of £239,176 will be returned to the Department from new free schools which did not recruit the predicted pupil numbers in 2012/13. No repayment was due for 2011/12.
	In respect of new academy school sixth forms in 2011/12 and 2012/13 the sums for recovery are £1,421,569 and £762,726 respectively. These are due to the Department in the following academic year.
	Any other new institutions opening in the maintained sector are subject to local authority funding arrangements, which are not reported in detail to the Department. This will also involve the return of funding to local authorities.

Schools: Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what instructions his Department has given to Ofsted inspectors in respect of the inspection of wellbeing in schools since 2010.

David Laws: The current school inspection framework reflects the statutory reporting requirements set out in section 5 of the Education Act 2005, as amended by the Education Act 2011.
	In judging a school, inspectors make four key judgements, reflecting the areas on which the Chief Inspector must report. These are pupil achievement; the quality of teaching; effectiveness of leadership and management; and the behaviour and safety of pupils. Within the leadership assessment, inspectors consider how well the school helps pupils to prepare for life in modern democratic Britain and a global society, as well as the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements at the school. In assessing the overall effectiveness of the school, inspectors also report on the provision for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils and on the development of pupils physical well-being.

Schools: Playing Fields

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions his Department has overruled the Schools Playing Fields Advisory Panel since September 2012; and what the reason for each such case was.

David Laws: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has overruled the Schools Playing Fields Advisory Panel only once since September 2012. This was an application by Warwickshire county council to dispose of land at the former Griff Special School, Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The panel did not object to the actual loss of this unused playing field, but highlighted specifically that any potential proceeds of sale would be lost to sport or educational investment, as the land was to be 'peppercorn' leased to a charitable housing association to provide housing for senior citizens. Acting directly upon the advice of the panel, the Secretary of State made this disposal conditional on Warwickshire county council investing a sum equal to the value of the land into education or sport, from funds not ring-fenced for education. The former school has been closed for eight years and the playing field land has not been used by a local school or the wider community in this time. Sport England did not object to the council's planning application and at consultation there were no objections to the loss of the unused playing field. Details of this decision were published on the Department's website in July.

Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff in his Department (a) were disciplined and (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Elizabeth Truss: The following table shows the Department for Education's figures for the period 1 October 2012 to 7 November 2013(1):
	
		
			 Month/year (a) Number of staff disciplined (b) Number of staff dismissed due to a poor sickness record 
			 2012   
			 October 0 0 
			 November 0 0 
			 December 0 0 
			    
			 2013   
			 January Less than 5 0 
			 February 0 0 
			 March 0 0 
			 April Less than 5 0 
			 May 0 0 
			 June Less than 5 0 
			 July 0 0 
			 August 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 September Less than 5 0 
			 October 0 0 
			 November (to 7 November) 0 0 
			 (1) Specific numbers have not been shown on the grounds of confidentiality.

Sign Language

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the relationship between the learning, skills and teaching involved in learning sign language and in learning other languages;
	(2)  if he will take steps to include British Sign Language within the modern foreign language group of subjects in the national curriculum.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education recognises the importance of British Sign Language.
	The new national curriculum programmes of study for languages contain a number of requirements that could not be met through British Sign Language, for example at key stage 2 the requirement to describe people, places, things and actions in writing; and at key stage 3 writing prose in the target language.
	This does not mean that British Sign Language cannot be a rigorous and challenging subject which schools might choose to teach in addition to foreign languages. The Department is supporting schools that choose to do so by funding the I-Sign project, which aims to improve the skills and qualifications of support workers in schools who help pupils using sign language. The project also provides classes and support to parents, and has developed an online course.

Teachers: Training

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the Initial Teacher Training core and School Direct allocations for 2014-15, published by the National College for Teaching and Leadership on 1 November 2013, if he will publish a breakdown of those allocations by (a) the primary and secondary phases and (b) individual secondary subjects; and if he will apportion the School Direct primary and secondary allocations by the salaried and fee paying routes.

David Laws: The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has written to lead schools and initial teacher training (ITT) providers (school centred ITTs and higher education institutions) to inform them of their ITT allocations. Institutions will confirm the number of places they want in the coming weeks. To help inform applicants' decisions, NCTL will publish a full list of the places allocated by lead school and ITT provider. The published data will also contain a summative breakdown of allocations by phase of education, subject and training route. This data will be published before the end of the month, once schools and providers have had a chance to respond to our proposed allocations.

Teachers: Training

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish in respect of each accredited initial teacher training provider for 2014-15 (a) the total provisional core primary allocations, (b) the provisional core allocations for each secondary subject, (c) the number of School Direct primary places provisionally linked to each provider and (d) the number of School Direct places by secondary subject provisionally linked to each provider.

David Laws: The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has written to lead schools and initial teaching training (ITT) providers (school centred ITTs and higher education institutions) to inform them of their ITT allocations. Institutions will confirm the number of places they want in the coming weeks. To help inform applicants' decisions, NCTL will publish a full list of the places allocated by lead school and ITT provider before the end of the month, once schools and providers have had a chance to respond to our proposed allocations. It would be misleading to state precisely which schools and universities received allocations before that time.

Teachers: Training

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the provisional teacher training allocations published by his Department on 1 November 2013, how many places from each accredited providers initial teacher training allocations are for (a) each phase, (b) each secondary subject, (c) core provision and (d) School Direct provision.

David Laws: The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has written to lead schools and initial teacher training (ITT) providers (school-centred initial teacher training and higher education institutions) to inform them of their ITT allocations. As stated on 1 November, NCTL will publish a full list of the places allocated by lead school and ITT provider in due course, once they have had the opportunity to confirm their allocations. The published data will contain a summative breakdown of allocations by phase of education, subject and training route.

Teachers: Training

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the provisional teacher training allocations published by his Department on 1 November 2013, how many places have been allocated to (a) higher education institutions, (b) school-centred initial teacher training, (c) School Direct fee-paying, (d) School Direct salaried, (e) other types of provision, (f) primary phase, (g) secondary phase and (h) each individual secondary subject.

David Laws: Management information published by the Department on 1 November shows the breakdown of provisional allocations by the type of initial teacher training (ITT) programme and academic level(1).
	As stated on 1 November, the National College for Teaching and Leadership will publish a full list of the places allocated by lead school and ITT provider in due course, once they have had the opportunity to confirm their allocations. The published data is intended to help inform applicants' decisions and will also contain a summative breakdown of allocations by phase of education, subject and training route.
	(1) Available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/initial/b00205704/schooldirect?cid=school-direct&type=redirect&pla=201112

Teachers: Training

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what budget the National College for Teaching and Leadership has set for promotion and advertisement of (a) core allocation and (b) School Direct routes for entry in academic year 2014-15.

David Laws: The Department for Education plans to spend around £2.9 million on promotion and advertising to support recruitment to initial teacher training over the next 12 months. This marketing budget is not broken down into core allocation and School Direct routes.

Teachers: Training

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many trainees (a) started the School Direct programme in 2012-13 and (b) having started that programme, did not achieve Qualified Teacher Status.

David Laws: 400(1) trainees started a School Direct in programme 2012/13. Outcomes of training, including award of qualified teacher status and employment in teaching within six months of completing training, will be published in the initial teacher training performance profiles in late 2014.
	(1 )Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.

Teachers: Training

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to apply automatic penalties for under-recruitment to School Direct places in the present academic year.

David Laws: The School Direct allocations methodology for 2014/15 initial teacher training allocations was published in July 2013(1).
	(1)https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-direct-allocations-methodology-academic-year-2014-to-2015

Teachers: Training

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to publish his evaluation of the School Direct programme.

David Laws: There are a number of measures by which the Department monitors and evaluates initial teacher training (ITT), including trainees on the School Direct scheme. These include the number and quality of trainees; success rates; and progression into employment. The Department also surveys the views of trainees. All data are published regularly on the Department's website. In addition, Ofsted inspects ITT providers and publishes its reports.

Teachers: Training

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools recruited through School Direct in 2012-13 for trainees to start in 2013.

David Laws: The data requested will be published in a Statistical First Release on 26 November 2013, as part of the Initial Teacher Training Census.

Teachers: Training

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many School Direct candidates were declined by partner Initial Teacher Training providers after they had been selected by a school.

David Laws: The Department for Education does not hold the data requested. The Department holds data on the number of candidates who were declined, but not whether the decision was made by the school or the partner provider.

Teachers: Training

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applicants to School Direct in 2012-13 had a UK undergraduate degree that was (a) first class, (b) second class, upper division (2.1), (c) second class, lower division (2.2), (d) third class and (e) ordinary degree (pass).

David Laws: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the degree class of trainee teachers in 2012-13 was published in the Initial Teacher Training Census (November 2012), available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-trainee-number-census
	Information about the degree class of School Direct applicants who commenced their training in the academic year 2013-14 will be published in the Initial Teacher Training Census in November 2013.

Teachers: Training

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of teachers in each Government office region underwent their initial teacher training within that region.

David Laws: This question cannot be answered without incurring disproportionate cost.

Teachers: Training

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of higher education institutions with an Outstanding Ofsted rating have been granted a smaller core allocation for initial teacher training for academic year 2014-15 than in 2012-13.

David Laws: In June 2012, the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), announced a two-year guarantee of places for ‘outstanding’ providers. The guarantee covers any phase of provision currently graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for overall effectiveness. If they request them, any provider with provision in this category will receive at least the same number of places they were allocated for 2012-13. If a provider requests less than their guaranteed number of places, we will allocate the smaller number.
	The National College for Teaching and Leadership intends to publish a full list of the places allocated by lead school and initial teacher training provider in the next few weeks, once institutions have had a chance to respond to our proposed allocations, which were released on 1 November. An analysis of the allocations received by '’outstanding’ higher education institution providers cannot be provided before this publication.

Teachers: Training

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of initial teacher training allocated places for academic year 2014-15 have been granted to lead institutions with an (a) Outstanding, (b) Good, (c) Requires improvement and (d) Inadequate Ofsted rating.

David Laws: Information regarding allocations to lead institutions by Ofsted rating is not available at this time. As stated on 1 November, the National College for Teaching and Leadership will publish a full list of the places allocated by lead school and initial teacher training (ITT) provider in due course, once they have had the opportunity to confirm their allocations.
	ITT providers or lead schools graded by Ofsted in their last inspection as 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate' were not allocated postgraduate ITT places.

Teachers: Training

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of initial teacher training allocated places for academic year (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 were granted to lead institutions with an (A) Outstanding, (B) Good, (C) Requires improvement and (D) Inadequate Ofsted rating.

David Laws: Core initial teacher training (ITT) places were allocated to ITT providers and School Direct places were allocated to lead schools for 2012/13 and 2013/14.
	The proportion of core ITT places allocated to ITT providers at each Ofsted grade in 2012/13 is shown in the following table. Information on the Ofsted grade of the lead schools that received an allocation of School Direct places in 2012/13 is not readily available.
	
		
			 Ofsted grade of ITT provider Proportion of core places allocated for the 2012/13 academic year (percentage) 
			 Outstanding 52 
			 Good 45 
			 Requires improvement 1 
			 Inadequate 1 
			 No inspection grade 1 
		
	
	The proportion of ITT places allocated to schools and ITT providers at each Ofsted grade in 2013/14 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			 Ofsted grade of ITT provider or school Proportion of core places allocated for the 2013/14 academic year Proportion of School Direct places allocated for the 2013/14 academic year 
			 Outstanding 54 69 
			 Good 39 22 
			 Requires improvement or satisfactory 3 4 
			 Inadequate 0 0 
			 No inspection grade 3 5

Teachers: Training

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the number of School Direct trainees recruited for the 2013-14 academic year for each subject, by the government region of the lead institution.

David Laws: The data requested are not available prior to publication of the national level statistics.
	These are due to be published in the statistical first release on 26 November 2013, as part of the initial teacher training census.

Teachers: Training

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of the overall (a) School Direct allocation, (b) Core allocation (postgraduate), (c)  Core allocation (undergraduate) and (d) Core allocation (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) has the National College for Teaching and Leadership calculated will need to be filled in academic year 2014-15 in order for the overall recruitment target to be met.

David Laws: Management information published by the Department on 1 November shows the breakdown of provisional allocations by the type of initial teacher training programme and academic level(1).
	The allocation number for individual training programmes are not targets and should not be regarded as such.
	(1) Available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/initial/b00205704/schooldirect?cid=school-direct&type=redirect&pla=201112

Teachers: Training

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of teachers working in each government region underwent their initial teacher training within that region.

David Laws: This question cannot be answered without incurring disproportionate cost.

HEALTH

Cancer: Drugs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence about health technology assessment methodologies for appraising cancer medicines; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Ministers have had no such discussions. However, as part of our plans to introduce value-based pricing for new medicines, including new cancer medicines, we have given the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) terms of reference for the development of a broader value assessment of new medicines which are available on its website at:
	www.nice.org.uk/media/9A4/92/DH_VBP_Terms_of_Reference.pdf
	Following feedback from patients' groups that they would welcome further opportunities to feed into the development of the new arrangements, we have now agreed that NICE will carry out a full public consultation before the methods for broader value assessment are implemented in autumn 2014.

CJD

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department has put in place to monitor the number of people who carry the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease;
	(2)  when he plans that screening of the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease will be introduced;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the number of people who carry the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Jane Ellison: The presence of abnormal prion protein is currently taken as a marker for asymptomatic carriage of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or for symptomatic infection. A recent study to assess carriage by looking at stored appendix tissue samples, first published in the Health Protection Report in August 2012, found abnormal prion protein in 16 appendices out of 32,441 samples. This suggests a prevalence of about 1 in 2,000.
	There is no monitoring of people who may carry the abnormal prion protein; all appendix prevalence studies are anonymised.
	No routine screening can yet take place as there are no suitable validated screening tests for abnormal prion protein available. The Department, together with the United Kingdom Blood Services, continues to monitor, scientific research and development in this area.

Cochlear Implants: East Midlands

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of adults in (a) Nottingham, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the East Midlands who might benefit from a cochlear implant.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made no assessment of the number of adults in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands who might benefit from a cochlear implant.

Cochlear Implants: East Midlands

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of cochlear implants fitted to adults in (a) Nottingham, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the East Midlands in the last year.

Norman Lamb: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on the total number of finished consultant episodes (FCE) with an operative procedure of cochlear implant for adult patients resident in the former Nottingham City Primary Care Trust (PCT) area, Nottinghamshire, and the former East Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area in 2012-13 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Area of residence Total FCEs 
			 Nottingham City PCT * 
			 Nottinghamshire 7 
			 East Midlands SHA 39 
			 Notes: 1. A FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. Number of episodes with a main or secondary procedure: The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 procedure fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. For example, patients undergoing a “cataract operation” would tend to have at least two procedures—removal of the faulty lens and the fitting of a new one—counted in a single episode. 3. Patients resident in Nottinghamshire are defined as those resident within the Nottingham City PCT, Bassetlaw PCT and Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT boundaries. 4. SHA/PCT of residence: The SHA or PCT containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where patients were treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. 5. To protect patient confidentiality, figures between one and five have been replaced with ‘*’ (an asterisk). Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Continuing Care

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of dispensing drugs to patients with long-term conditions on a 28-day prescription cycle.

Norman Lamb: No such estimate has been made. There has been no Government directive to specify the length of time for which prescriptions should be issued.

General Practitioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits were made to a GP in each of the last 10 years.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre does not hold data on how many visits were made to a general practitioner (GP) in each of the last 10 years.
	However information about trends in consultation rates in general practice was published up until 2009, in ‘Trends in Consultation Rates in General Practice—1995-2009’. This report estimates the number of consultations in England based on a sample. It includes consultations by GPs, nurses and other clinicians. Consultations include visits to surgery, telephone consultations, home visits and consultations at other locations. A link to the data is available at:
	http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB01077

General Practitioners

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with (a) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and (b) Public Health England on the Quality and Outcomes Framework.

Jane Ellison: NHS England asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to undertake a piece of work to inform a review of indicators within the clinical and public health domains within the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). NHS England has also sought on-going advice from Public Health England throughout the process of reviewing indicators in the QOF. This advice will feed into the on-going discussions on the General Medical Services (GMS) contract.
	The GMS contract is negotiated by NHS Employers on behalf of NHS England. The outcome of the GMS contract negotiations will be published in due course.

General Practitioners

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will direct Public Health England to prioritise the development of a Quality and Outcomes Framework indicator that would award points to GPs who advise, prescribe and recommend appropriate guidance and support for obese and overweight patients;
	(2)  what steps he will take to incentivise GPs to advise, prescribe and recommend appropriate guidance and support for obese and overweight patients.

Jane Ellison: General practitioners and other health and care professionals have a key role in "making every contact count" by identifying overweight children and adults, and supporting them with an appropriate intervention or referral and on-going management.
	Public Health England is delivering key programmes such as NHS health checks and the National Child Measurement Programme to help identify overweight and obesity so local authorities can plan and deliver services.
	NHS England asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to undertake a piece of work to inform a review of indicators within the clinical and public health domains within the Quality and Outcomes Framework. NHS England also sought advice from Public Health England. This advice will feed into the on-going discussions on the General Medical Services (GMS) contract.
	The GMS contract is negotiated by National Health Service Employers on behalf of NHS England. The outcome of the GMS contract negotiations will be published in due course.

Glaucoma

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the availability of the Xalatan form of the drug latanoprost at UK pharmacies.

Norman Lamb: Pharmacies can obtain Xalatan (latanoprost) eye drops through the wholesaler, Alliance Healthcare. Supplies are available. Any pharmacy who experiences difficulties obtaining stock can contact the manufacturer, Pfizer, who will investigate further.

Hearing Impairment: East Midlands

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the number of adults in (a) Nottingham, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) the East Midlands with a severe to profound hearing loss.

Norman Lamb: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on the number of adults registered as deaf or hard of hearing at 31 March 2010 for Nottingham city council, Nottinghamshire county council, and for all councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) in the east midlands area is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Deaf Hard of hearing 
			 Nottingham 720 560 
			 Nottinghamshire 835 1,125 
		
	
	
		
			 East Midlands 5,020 13,355 
			 Notes: 1. Data was historically submitted by CASSRs every three years. The most recently available data is at 31 March 2010. Following a review of returns collected by the HSCIC, the number of people registered as deaf is no longer collected centrally. 2. In order to find the figure for the geographical area of Nottinghamshire, the figures for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire councils must be totalled. 3. The figures reflect the definitions of the return from CASSRs, not necessarily ‘severe to profound hearing loss’. 4. The 2009-10 SSDA910 publication is available on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website at: www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/regdeafl0 5. The guidance document for the SSDA910 return for the year 2009-10 is available on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120802111034/http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/Services/Social%20care/Collections%200910/SSDA910/SSDA910%20Deaf%20and%20Hard%20of%20Hearing% 202009-10%20v1.0.pdf Source. Registers for Deaf People from CASSRs (SSDA910), Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).

Heart Diseases

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a new health and equality impact assessment will be undertaken for the new congenital heart disease review; and which body is responsible for commissioning such assessments.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is responsible for conducting the new review of congenital heart disease services and is committed to a review that is robust, transparent and inclusive, in the interests of delivering high quality and sustainable services for all patients.
	NHS England advises that if the review develops proposals to change the form and function of services then appropriate impact assessments will be undertaken.
	Information on the detail of the new review can be found on NHS England's website at:
	www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/chd/

Insulin

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to monitor access to insulin pump therapy in (a) Stafford and (b) England.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not monitor access to insulin pump therapy and does not hold this information centrally.
	It is for NHS England to ensure that commissioners and providers make insulin pumps available for those people with diabetes that meet the criteria recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
	The first ever United Kingdom-wide audit of insulin pump use was sponsored by the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists, Diabetes UK and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with support from NICE. It involves the participation of 97% of hospital trusts that provide insulin pump services.

Malnutrition

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were admitted to hospital with malnutrition in (a) England, (b) each primary care trust area of responsibility and (c) each current clinical commissioning group area of responsibility in each of the last five years for which data are available.

Norman Lamb: The table shows a count of finished admission episodes for patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of malnutrition in England and each primary care trust (PCT) area of responsibility for the last five years.
	This is not a count of patients as the same patient may be admitted more than once in a financial year.
	The information is not available for each current clinical commissioning group area of responsibility.
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 Area 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 England 3,161 3,773 4,657 5,377 5,499 
			 PCT Area of Responsibility:      
			 Ashton, Leigh And Wigan PCT 20 28 23 29 42 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT * * * 13 12 
			 Barnet PCT 11 33 29 26 38 
			 Barnsley PCT * 18 11 17 14 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 9 7 13 18 22 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 10 13 26 29 27 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 43 39 23 33 44 
			 Berkshire East PCT 26 22 20 25 22 
			 Berkshire West PCT 105 31 43 33 22 
			 Bexley Care Trust 15 10 16 28 26 
			 Birmingham East And North PCT 30 25 39 54 43 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT — 8 — — — 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus — — 10 10 6 
			 Blackpool PCT * 8 16 13 15 
			 Bolton PCT 10 17 42 62 70 
			 Bournemouth And Poole Teaching PCT 38 26 29 49 57 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 56 74 114 158 113 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 10 19 39 30 38 
			 Brighton and Hove City PCT 22 18 41 34 39 
			 Bristol PCT 33 37 34 48 41 
			 Bromley PCT 9 9 16 24 28 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 30 24 39 16 33 
			 Bury PCT 13 11 17 21 9 
			 Calderdale PCT 6 * 6 8 15 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 18 18 37 35 35 
			 Camden PCT 6 13 20 32 53 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 18 20 30 43 41 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 22 28 36 49 31 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 24 30 27 33 32 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 63 79 92 130 118 
			 County Durham PCT 17 32 42 28 44 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 11 25 23 45 28 
			 Croydon PCT 12 11 17 40 27 
			 Cumbria Teaching PCT 24 39 22 33 51 
			 Darlington PCT * 10 * * 10 
			 Derby City PCT 10 12 24 16 16 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 31 31 32 47 41 
			 Devon PCT 62 65 84 83 72 
			 Doncaster PCT 9 16 18 25 28 
			 Dorset PCT 37 57 36 51 42 
			 Dudley PCT 27 35 26 18 35 
			 Ealing PCT 14 25 15 39 30 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 13 20 — — — 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 14 34 25 27 16 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 13 19 20 24 15 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 17 16 24 35 23 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 20 37 39 36 44 
			 Enfield PCT 12 15 21 31 26 
			 Gateshead PCT 35 43 59 63 40 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 25 29 51 50 44 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 13 25 27 32 27 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 14 25 38 40 23 
		
	
	
		
			 Halton and St Helens PCT 20 16 34 48 45 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 31 14 15 14 18 
			 Hampshire PCT 93 109 134 135 101 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 29 19 16 30 36 
			 Harrow PCT 10 10 15 33 25 
			 Hartlepool PCT * 9 11 9 11 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT * 7 6 22 29 
			 Havering PCT 10 7 10 21 12 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 10 29 32 23 42 
			 Herefordshire PCT 9 7 9 9 10 
			 Hertfordshire PCT — — 73 69 82 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 14 16 23 18 22 
			 Hillingdon PCT 8 20 18 30 43 
			 Hounslow PCT 26 12 7 20 25 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 11 14 21 31 33 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 27 35 41 24 28 
			 Islington PCT 13 15 20 29 33 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 10 12 20 38 21 
			 Kingston PCT 8 8 16 11 6 
			 Kirklees PCT 9 10 33 23 26 
			 Knowsley PCT 8 6 18 17 17 
			 Lambeth PCT 17 15 32 28 27 
			 Leeds PCT 30 40 68 83 93 
			 Leicester City PCT 27 23 28 35 37 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 47 69 63 55 43 
			 Lewisham PCT 7 16 19 25 17 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 34 41 45 34 32 
			 Liverpool PCT 37 43 47 58 51 
			 Luton PCT 24 19 24 27 25 
			 Manchester PCT 37 29 61 77 66 
			 Medway PCT 12 19 17 21 19 
			 Mid Essex PCX 12 13 17 21 12 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 8 8 16 11 6 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 11 21 29 21 22 
			 Newcastle PCT 20 31 20 33 35 
			 Newham PCT 20 18 28 31 35 
			 Norfolk PCT 31 43 49 52 58 
			 North East Essex PCT 12 37 20 29 20 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus * * 9 6 15 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 19 14 30 22 32 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT * * * * * 
			 North Somerset PCT 7 11 8 21 12 
			 North Staffordshire PCT * 22 19 25 31 
			 North Tyneside PCT 17 20 29 36 35 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 36 69 54 58 77 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 37 37 28 40 35 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 17 32 49 37 33 
			 Nottingham City PCT 17 31 36 38 51 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 57 53 66 55 64 
			 Oldham PCT * 10 23 15 17 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 31 28 39 50 54 
			 Peterborough PCT 11 13 8 10 13 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 40 62 57 57 66 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 14 32 31 36 25 
			 Redbridge PCT 6 * 15 9 18 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT * 10 15 11 10 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 8 11 15 8 10 
			 Rotherham PCT 7 10 10 18 10 
			 Salford PCT 22 33 49 64 60 
			 Sandwell PCT 29 16 35 51 34 
			 Sefton PCT 8 19 22 19 29 
			 Sheffield PCT 54 22 30 29 27 
			 Shropshire County PCT 8 11 26 23 23 
			 Solihull Care Trust 13 11 17 — — 
			 Solihull PCT — — — 14 16 
		
	
	
		
			 Somerset PCT 30 81 93 110 215 
			 South Birmingham PCT 19 21 26 28 49 
			 South East Essex PCT 29 27 33 22 41 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT * 25 13 23 18 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 22 43 40 59 50 
			 South Tyneside PCT 6 27 33 25 25 
			 South West Essex PCT 15 20 26 20 41 
			 Southampton City PCT 39 45 53 43 44 
			 Southwark PCT 27 28 17 18 23 
			 Stockport PCT 19 21 18 37 55 
			 Stockton-On-Tees Teaching PCT 8 * 26 21 13 
			 Stoke On Trent PCT 18 27 23 26 58 
			 Suffolk PCT 36 61 48 72 77 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 9 12 14 21 31 
			 Surrey PCT 33 50 81 80 84 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 18 19 30 31 39 
			 Swindon PCT 14 21 28 26 20 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 9 15 25 34 10 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 9 6 * 14 8 
			 Torbay Care Trust 22 15 9 18 28 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 12 14 19 20 12 
			 Trafford PCT 9 9 24 29 40 
			 Wakefield District PCT 21 17 23 20 32 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 13 16 26 63 38 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 8 21 17 14 19 
			 Wandsworth PCT 11 16 37 34 29 
			 Warrington PCT 12 15 27 16 27 
			 Warwickshire PCT 42 36 41 51 35 
			 West Essex PCT 19 14 24 50 27 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 25 45 — — — 
			 West Kent PCT 33 23 40 39 44 
			 West Sussex PCT 84 80 91 118 101 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 18 20 16 20 19 
			 Westminster PCT 20 20 33 48 50 
			 Wiltshire PCT 43 33 52 52 54 
			 Wirral PCT 31 24 32 47 89 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 14 15 38 41 42 
			 Worcestershire PCT 30 22 31 38 47 
			 Not applicable 18 21 25 32 32 
			 Unknown * * * * * 
			 Note: To protect patient confidentiality; figures between 1 and 5 have been replaced with “*” (an asterisk), Where it was still possible to identify figures from the total, additional figures have been replaced with “*”.

Malnutrition

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were discharged from hospital with malnutrition in (a) England, (b) each primary care trust area of responsibility and (c) each current clinical commissioning group area of responsibility in each of the last five years for which data are available.

Norman Lamb: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the following table shows a count of finished discharge episodes with a primary or secondary diagnosis of malnutrition for England and by primary care trust (PCT) of responsibility for the year 2008-09 to 2012-13.
	This indicates one of the last diagnoses that a particular patient was being treated for, it is not the diagnosis at the moment the patient is discharged as information on the diagnoses that a patient has on leaving hospital is not collected. As such the presence of a diagnosis of malnutrition on the discharge episode does not imply they were still malnourished when discharged from hospital.
	
		
			 Code PCT of responsibility 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 — England 3,633 4,412 5,558 6,409 6,691 
			 5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 20 29 29 29 51 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT 8 8 7 15 14 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT 12 30 36 29 46 
			 5JE Barnsley PCT * 19 11 14 20 
			 5ET Bassetlaw PCT 8 7 12 26 34 
			 5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 10 14 28 33 35 
		
	
	
		
			 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 49 41 30 39 65 
			 5QG Berkshire East PCT 32 24 25 32 26 
			 5QF Berkshire West PCT 119 31 43 38 19 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust 16 11 16 28 28 
			 SPG Birmingham East and North PCT 36 30 43 57 52 
			 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT 0 * 0 0 0 
			 TAP Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus 0 0 12 15 6 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT 7 9 22 19 23 
			 5HQ Bolton PCT 13 15 51 64 86 
			 5QN Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 44 34 34 54 68 
			 5NY Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 62 75 120 164 128 
			 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT 8 20 40 32 42 
			 5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 23 22 50 38 48 
			 5QJ Bristol PCT 36 49 43 56 54 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT 10 9 16 24 39 
			 5QD Buckinghamshire PCT 33 25 38 23 38 
			 5JX Bury PCT 13 12 21 22 14 
			 5J6 Calderdale PCT 6 6 7 10 18 
			 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 20 20 35 42 44 
			 5K7 Camden PCT 6 11 20 34 54 
			 5NP Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 26 26 28 48 45 
			 5NG Central Lancashire PCT 25 31 40 51 43 
			 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 28 29 35 33 37 
			 5QP Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 76 98 135 175 171 
			 5ND County Durham PCT 19 41 44 30 52 
			 5MD Coventry Teaching PCT 14 35 40 46 26 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT 13 18 24 42 40 
			 5NE Cumbria Teaching PCT 26 44 22 36 53 
			 5J9 Darlington PCT * 11 * 6 11 
			 5N7 Derby City PCT 14 19 32 27 26 
			 5N6 Derbyshire County PCT 39 37 40 76 63 
			 5QQ Devon PCT 81 72 96 111 86 
			 5N5 Doncaster PCT 12 19 20 28 35 
			 5QM Dorset PCT 37 70 55 75 57 
			 5PE Dudley PCT 32 34 28 24 32 
			 5HX Ealing PCT 20 24 18 38 39 
			 5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 15 21 0 0 0 
			 5NH East Lancashire Teaching PCT 19 36 28 30 22 
			 5NW East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 10 21 25 29 17 
			 5P7 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 16 16 27 36 25 
			 5QA Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 23 35 43 41 52 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT 11 19 26 39 29 
			 5KF Gateshead PCT 39 44 73 65 50 
			 5QH Gloucestershire PCT 31 30 54 60 45 
			 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 16 29 29 33 33 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT 14 24 35 38 27 
			 5NM Halton and St Helens PCT 24 26 48 64 57 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 29 15 23 16 23 
			 5QC Hampshire PCT 106 117 149 152 112 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 30 21 20 41 39 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT 9 12 17 40 29 
			 5D9 Hartlepool PCT * 9 12 10 11 
			 5P8 Hastings and Rother PCT * 8 9 27 34 
			 5A4 Havering PCX 13 10 16 20 16 
			 5MX Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 16 33 39 35 52 
			 5CN Herefordshire PCX 9 8 8 9 10 
			 5QV Hertfordshire PCT 0 0 76 91 90 
			 5NQ Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 15 15 22 21 26 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT 10 21 28 35 45 
			 5HY Hounslow PCT 32 12 8 26 30 
			 5NX Hull Teaching PCT 14 17 29 38 43 
			 5QT Isle of Wight NHS PCT 27 34 37 22 30 
			 5K8 Islington PCT 15 17 21 31 33 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 14 18 23 44 29 
		
	
	
		
			 5A5 Kingston PCT 9 8 20 17 9 
			 5N2 Kirklees PCT 11 14 34 35 34 
			 5J4 Knowsley PCT 8 11 22 24 25 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT 18 18 38 37 34 
			 5N1 Leeds PCT 41 57 89 95 135 
			 5PC Leicester City PCT 33 31 38 52 46 
			 5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 50 85 79 67 ¦64 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT 9 19 20 32 18 
			 5N9 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 39 42 54 40 38 
			 5NL Liverpool PCT 37 61 64 75 64 
			 5GC Luton PCT 28 24 28 31 32 
			 5NT Manchester PCT 38 41 67 96 80 
			 5L3 Medway PCT 12 18 20 24 25 
			 5PX Mid Essex PCT 13 14 18 25 17 
			 5KM Middlesbrough PCT 9 10 23 16 8 
			 5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 10 32 35 27 29 
			 5D7 Newcastle PCT 28 48 25 37 47 
			 5C5 Newham PCT 27 21 36 44 44 
			 5PQ Norfolk PCT 37 46 56 58 67 
			 5PW North East Essex PCT 14 38 29 31 27 
			 TAN North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus * * 12 9 20 
			 5NF North Lancashire Teaching PCT 19 19 33 28 34 
			 5EF North Lincolnshire PCT 6 * 7 * 6 
			 5M8 North Somerset PCT 9 12 9 23 16 
			 5PH North Staffordshire PCT 6 24 18 30 30 
			 5D8 North Tyneside PCT 21 30 49 40 43 
			 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 39 73 61 65 84 
			 5PD Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 44 42 33 44 41 
			 TAC Northumberland Care Trust 27 39 57 55 36 
			 5EM Nottingham City PCT 24 45 50 66 71 
			 5N8 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 66 70 82 81 97 
			 5J5 Oldham PCT 6 11 28 13 19 
			 5QE Oxfordshire PCT 32 30 42 52 55 
			 5PN Peterborough PCT 15 18 7 10 14 
			 5F1 Plymouth Teaching PCT 55 89 91 74 93 
			 5FE Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 16 41 41 42 25 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT 8 6 21 10 20 
			 5QR Redcar and Cleveland PCT * 8 20 21 14 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 9 12 14 11 12 
			 5H8 Rotherham PCT 7 10 11 17 12 
			 5F5 Salford PCT 24 32 50 63 62 
			 5PF Sandwell PCT 32 24 38 57 40 
			 5NJ Sefton PCT 8 22 22 21 32 
			 5N4 Sheffield PCT 61 19 30 29 26 
			 5M2 Shropshire County PCT 8 12 27 21 28 
			 TAM Solihull Care Trust 17 14 21 b 0 
			 5QW Solihull PCT 0 0 0 21 21 
			 5QL Somerset PCT 34 116 155 179 301 
			 5M1 South Birmingham PCT 24 25 33 32 61 
			 5P1 South East Essex PCT 31 29 41 46 63 
			 5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT * 28 18 25 21 
			 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 26 49 41 63 61 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT 13 34 43 34 35 
			 5PY South West Essex PCT 15 24 29 31 47 
			 5L1 Southampton City PCT 45 54 64 55 53 
			 5LE Southwark PCT 26 26 21 23 28 
			 5F7 Stockport PCT 20 30 24 41 57 
			 5E1 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 11 * 28 22 15 
			 5PJ Stoke on Trent PCT 21 31 28 29 59 
			 5PT Suffolk PCT 39 78 60 86 88 
			 5KL Sunderland Teaching PCT 10 16 21 24 30 
			 5P5 Surrey PCT 34 66 94 94 103 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 23 23 36 48 50 
			 5K3 Swindon PCT 16 23 31 28 23 
			 5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 13 17 29 38 16 
		
	
	
		
			 5MK Telford and Wrekin PCT 9 8 * 17 10 
			 TAL Torbay Care Trust 28 22 11 26 35 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 12 20 20 20- 15 
			 5NR Trafford PCT 7 13 27 30 41 
			 5N3 Wakefield District PCT 20 20 29 21 36 
			 5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 14 18 32 71 50 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT 15 23 22 19 27 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT 18 19 41 37 33 
			 5J2 Warrington PCT 12 18 31 17 36 
			 5PM Warwickshire PCT 47 40 44 58 46 
			 5PV West Essex PCT 20 14 25 51 37 
			 5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 31 46 0 0 0 
			 5P9 West Kent PCT 36 29 43 45 49 
			 5P6 West Sussex PCT 102 100 124 133 125 
			 5NN Western Cheshire PCT 21 21 23 25 20 
			 5LC Westminster PCT 29 20 39 53 53 
			 5QK Wiltshire PCT 49 36 58 61 71 
			 5NK Wirral PCT 31 23 33 50 89 
			 5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 17 21 47 55 52 
			 5PL Worcestershire PCT 31 24 31 41 47 
			 59898 Not Applicable 15 25 31 33 36 
			 59999 Unknown 1 1 2 * 1 
			 Notes: 1. Finished discharge episodes A discharge episode is the last episode during a hospital stay (a spell), where the patient is discharged from the hospital or transferred to another hospital. 2. Number of episodes in which the patient had a primary or secondary diagnosis. The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. 3. ICD10 codes—Malnutrition E40.X—Kwashiorkor E41.X—Nutritional marasmus E42.X—Marasmic kwashiorkor E43.X—Unspecified severe protein-energy malnutrition E44.0—Moderate protein-energy malnutrition E44.1—Mild protein-energy malnutrition E45.X—Retarded development following protein-energy malnutrition E46.X—Unspecified protein-energy malnutrition O25.X—Malnutrition in pregnancy 4. PCT of responsibility The PCT of responsibility is derived from the PCT of general practitioner practice, the PCT of residence and the PCT of main provider. 5. Assessing growth through time (in-patients) HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. 6. Small numbers To protect patient confidentiality, figures between one and five have been replaced with “*” (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify figures from the total, additional figures have been replaced with “*”. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Malnutrition

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were readmitted to hospital due to malnutrition in each of the last five years for which data are available; and how many such patients resided at a care home or residential home.

Norman Lamb: Information on whether a patient was readmitted to hospital due to malnutrition is not held centrally.

Malnutrition

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were discharged from hospital with a nutritional care plan in each of the last five years for which data are available.

Norman Lamb: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	National health service hospitals have their own discharge policies. Hospitals' discharge policies should follow government guidance on discharge of patients. If a patient is assessed as requiring nutritional support, they will receive a care plan to help them to ensure optimal nutrition and weight maintenance.
	In line with the National Institute for Care Excellence Quality Standard for nutrition support in adults, published in November 2012, service providers should ensure that people who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition have a management care plan that aims to meet their complete nutritional requirements.

Malnutrition

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of malnutrition in (a) hospitals and (b) care homes; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: All providers of regulated activities, including hospitals and care homes, are required by law to have policies in place that protect people from the risk of inadequate nutrition and hydration. We expect the Care Quality Commission to take swift action should it find this not to be the case.
	The importance of good quality food for patients is recognised both in terms of improving their health and in relation to their overall experience of services. Poor diet can cause serious illness and even increase the risk of early death.
	It is for health and social care providers to develop local nutrition and hydration policies and there are a number of best practice resources and guidelines available to help providers do this. These include the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines to help the national health service identify patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and the Essence of Care benchmarking system which includes food and drink.
	Providers may also use the ‘red tray’ scheme wherein patients are identified for special attention.
	As part of our continued work to improve hospital food, Age UK Chair Dianne Jeffrey has agreed to chair a panel to look at standards of food in hospitals. The work will focus particularly on nutritional quality, mealtime experience and the help given to patients to eat.

Mental Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his Department has spent on the promotion of five a day for mental health in each year for which data is available;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of visits to GPs per year by people who have (a) undergone and (b) not undergone mindfulness interventions;
	(3)  how many people reported poor (a) mental and (b) physical health in (i) May 2010 and (ii) the most recent period for which data is available;
	(4)  how many people have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder in each year for which data is available;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the age of onset of depression over the longest period for which data is available;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of the effect of materialism on levels of mental health;
	(7)  if he will give the annual results for the (a) depression register for adults number 18 plus or (b) depression prevalence for adults 18 plus (percentage) for each year in which data are available.

Norman Lamb: The number of adults aged 18 or over on the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) depression register and the raw prevalence rates for all available years are given in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of adult patients aged 18 or over(1 )on the QOF depression register and the raw prevalence rate in England 
			  Sum of register count Prevalence 
			 2008-09(1) 4,373,974 8.1 
			 2009-10 4,648,287 10.7 
			 2010-11 4,878,188 11.2 
			 2011-12 5,123,948 11.7 
			 2012-13(2) 2,582,233 5.8 
			 (1) 2008-09 prevalence is presented on the basis of registers as a percentage of whole practice list size. (2) There was a change in the QOF business rules for the depression register in 2012-13. Previously, all patients with a record of unresolved depression at any point in their general practitioner (GP) patient record were included on the register. As of April 2013, the register rules were changed to only include patients with a record of unresolved depression since April 2006. As a result, fewer patients are included on the register, thus reducing the reported prevalence. Note: Raw prevalence = sum of registers for all practices/sum of list sizes for all practices (expressed as a percentage). 
		
	
	The Department has not invested funds in this promotion of five a day for mental health.
	The Department does not collect data on estimates of the number of visits to GPs per year of people who have undergone or not undergone mindfulness interventions.
	The Department is aware of the numbers of people who have common mental health problems that include depression and anxiety disorders, however there is no breakdown of the data into individual disorders. Mindfulness Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved treatment designed to prevent relapse for those with recurrent depression and is not recommended for the treatment of anxiety disorders. The recent NICE social anxiety guidelines specifically states that Mindfulness approaches are not recommended for the treatment of people with social anxiety disorders.
	The Health Survey for England (HSE) provides estimates of people with poor mental and physical health, most recently in 2011. The proportion who reported long term mental health problems in HSE in 2010 was 4.18% and in 2011 the figure was 3.76%.
	In 2010; 66.04% of people with long standing mental health problems also had a longstanding physical health problem, representing 2.24% of the total population. In 2011, the equivalent figure was 55.53%, representing 1.77% of the total population.
	The Department does not collect data for the age of onset of depression centrally.
	The Department has not commissioned any research on the effect of materialism on levels of mental health.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days (a) under-16 year olds and (b) under-18 year olds spent on adult mental health wards in each region in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 5 November 2013, Official Report, columns 166-68W.
	I look forward to meeting the right hon. Member next month to discuss the outstanding issues from his End of Day debate on 23 October about in-patient mental health services for children and adolescents.

Mental Illness

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he gives to police forces on dealing with people who are suffering from mental health difficulties.

Norman Lamb: Police forces should work closely with local mental health professionals to ensure that people they deal with who have mental health difficulties receive a supportive response from the most appropriate agency.
	The Department has been working closely with the Home Office, national policing leads, NHS England and other key partners to produce an agreed statement and set of principles to guide responses in cases where people in mental health crisis come to the attention of the police. We aim to publish this joint concordat before the end of the year.
	If a person experiencing mental health problems is arrested and taken to police custody, they will often have access to liaison and diversion services. These schemes for adults and young people who come into contact with the criminal justice system, in police custody and courts, identify and assess health needs. They aim to link offenders to appropriate treatment and to inform charging and sentencing decisions as people progress through the criminal justice system.
	The Home Office, Department of Health and Ministry of Justice are undertaking work to roll out liaison and diversion schemes in police custody suites nationally from 2014.
	The Department is also funding mental health “street triage” in nine police force areas. The forces involved are the Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport police, West Yorkshire police, West Midlands police, Thames Valley police, North Yorkshire police, Sussex police, Derbyshire constabulary, and Devon and Cornwall police. In these schemes, already operational in some parts of the country, mental health professionals advise and support police officers directly when they deal with people who may have a mental health need.

NHS: Training

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps Health Education England takes with its counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure that assessment of need in the commissioning of student places for the education and training of health care workers takes place on a UK-wide basis;
	(2)  what steps Health Education England plans to take to ensure that determination of the number of student commissions for health care workers by local education and training boards takes full account of the number of health care workers employed outside the NHS;
	(3)  what steps Health Education England plans to take to ensure that an England-wide assessment of need is made to inform the commissioning of student places for the education and training of health care workers;
	(4)  what steps Health Education England plans to take to ensure that reductions in student places commissioned by local education and training boards do not threaten the viability of education and training courses for healthcare workers;
	(5)  what data (a) his Department and (b) Health Education England gather and use to inform the number of student commissions for healthcare workers by local education and training boards;
	(6)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that the determination of the number of student commissions for healthcare workers by local education and training boards is based on consistent and accurate data.

Daniel Poulter: The information in this response has been supplied by Health Education England (HEE).
	In June, HEE produced the first ever work force guidance for England. The aim of this work force planning guide is to secure future work force to maintain safe staffing levels while supporting transformation of services. The guide provides clarity around roles, responsibilities, milestones and timelines and creates the opportunity to consider priorities between professional groups, between current and future work force and between numbers and skills, values and behaviours. The guide is available at:
	www.hee.nhs.uk/work-programmes/workforce-planning/new-workforce-planning-guide-for-the-nhs/
	HEE's approach to open, robust, evidence-based decision making has included a call for evidence, active engagement with stakeholders, professional engagement through the HEE Advisory Groups and work with our local education and training boards (LETBs) and their local audiences.
	In 2013 this means that HEE have collected and assessed the future forecast work force requirements of virtually every national health service provider and also assessed the future supply of staff in each LETB area. This data are then triangulated against information received through the ‘call for evidence’ from organisations such as royal colleges, staff organisations, and patient bodies. These processes will, within current data limitations, attempt to assess the impact on the NHS work force of the requirements of the devolved nations, and the independent sector. HEE is working with other stakeholders to ensure that robust work force information continues to be available to inform the work force planning process in future years.
	HEE has primary responsibility for health care education and training in England but where possible will endeavour to work with the devolved administrations and health services of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver objectives that impact and improve health services across the United Kingdom.
	HEE continues to engage with the devolved nations including through a regular four nation work force planners forum. LETBs include non-NHS employers as members, including a number of cases where independent sector providers are full board members.
	HEE is also working closely with its education providers and Higher Education Funding Council for England to ensure the impact of any decisions on education programmes are carefully implemented with regard to the impact on these partners.
	They have also carried out due diligence on the picture inherited from the former strategic health authorities and have shared information widely in the interest of openness and transparency.

NHS: Training

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that the determination of the number of student commissions for health care workers by local education and training boards takes full account of the many health care workers now employed outside the NHS;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that an England-wide assessment of need is made in the commissioning of student places for the education and training of health care workers;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the determination of the number of student commissions for health care workers by local education and training boards is based on consistent and accurate data;
	(4)  what steps Health Education England is taking to ensure that reductions in commissioned student places by local education and training boards do not affect the viability of education and training courses for health care workers;
	(5)  what data (a) his Department and (b) Health Education England (i) commission and (ii) use to calculate the number of student commissions for health care workers by local education and training boards;
	(6)  what steps Health Education England is taking with its counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure UK-wide assessment of need in the commissioning of student places for the education and training of health care workers.

Daniel Poulter: The information in this response has been supplied by Health Education England (HEE).
	In June, HEE produced the first ever work force guidance for England. The aim of this work force planning guide is to secure future work force to maintain safe staffing levels while supporting transformation of services. The guide provides clarity around roles, responsibilities, milestones and timelines and creates the opportunity to consider priorities between professional groups, between current and future work force and between numbers and skills, values and behaviours. The guide is available at:
	hee.nhs.uk/work-programmes/workforce-planning/new-workforce-planning-guide-for-the-nhs/
	HEE's approach to open, robust, evidence-based decision making has included a call for evidence, active engagement with stakeholders, professional engagement through the HEE advisory groups and work with our local education and training boards (LETBs) and their local audiences.
	In 2013 this means that HEE have collected and assessed the future forecast work force requirements of virtually every NHS provider and also assessed the future supply of staff in each LETB area. This data is then triangulated against information received through the 'call for evidence' from organisations such as royal colleges, staff organisations, and patient bodies. These processes will, within current data limitations, attempt to assess the impact on the NHS work force of the requirements of the devolved nations, and the independent sector. HEE is working with other stakeholders to ensure that robust work force information continues to be available to inform the work force planning process in future years.
	HEE has primary responsibility for health care education and training in England but where possible will endeavour to work with the devolved Administrations and health services of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver objectives that impact and improve health services across the United Kingdom.
	HEE continues to engage with the devolved nations including through a regular four nation work force planners forum. LETBs include non-NHS employers as members, including a number of cases where independent sector providers are full board members.
	HEE is also working closely with its education providers and Higher Education Funding Council for England to ensure the impact of any decisions on education programmes are carefully implemented with regard to the impact on these partners.
	They have also carried out due diligence on the picture inherited from the former strategic health authorities and have shared information widely in the interest of openness and transparency.

Older People: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of (a) the number of dependent elderly in each London borough and (b) the number of such elderly people that have no family living in their borough.

Norman Lamb: The numbers of older people in London receiving residential and community based support from their local authority in 2012-13 are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  2012-13 
			  Residential Community 
			 Barking and Dagenham 430 2,340 
			 Barnet 780 2,440 
			 Bexley 505 915 
			 Brent 555 1,660 
			 Bromley 650 2,105 
			 Camden 425 1,490 
			 City of London 25 60 
			 Croydon 690 3,285 
			 Ealing 545 2,520 
			 Enfield 675 2,180 
			 Greenwich 525 1,585 
			 Hackney 395 1,640 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 380 1,885 
			 Haringey 440 1,315 
			 Harrow 450 2,090 
			 Havering 585 2,695 
			 Hillingdon 570 2,385 
			 Hounslow 410 1,415 
			 Islington 500 1,165 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 290 1,785 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 260 975 
			 Lambeth 625 2,430 
			 Lewisham 595 2,085 
			 Merton 500 1,440 
			 Newham 470 1,530 
			 Redbridge 455 2,900 
			 Richmond upon Thames 440 615 
			 Southwark 620 1,655 
		
	
	
		
			 Sutton 290 1,155 
			 Tower Hamlets 405 1,750 
			 Waltham Forest 400 1,250 
			 Wandsworth 605 1,250 
			 Westminster 535 2,230 
			 London Total 16,020 58,215 
			 Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Community Care Statistics, Social Services Activity, England—2012-13, Provisional release. 
		
	
	In addition a number of older people in each borough fund their own care and support without help from their local authority. The Department does not collect data on this group of people.
	The Department does not collect data on the number of elderly people who have family living in their borough.
	It is for each area's health and wellbeing board to prepare Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) to assess the health and social care needs of the whole local community, including older people who need care and support. Based on the JSNAs the local authority must work with local communities to agree local priorities for action to improve both health and care services.

Paediatrics

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to reconfigure general, non-specialist, paediatric services in (a) Stafford and (b) England;
	(2)  which NHS organisation has overall responsibility for regional and national critical care infrastructure.

Jane Ellison: The policy of this Government is that the configuration of health services across England, including critical care and non-specialist paediatric services, is driven by the local national health service. Local commissioners and clinicians are best placed to ensure that services meet the needs of their local population, and to consider where changes might be necessary in order to best meet those needs now and in the future.
	All proposals for change are subject to proper and public scrutiny by local authorities, whose health and overview scrutiny committees should work closely with the local NHS throughout the process. These scrutiny committees also have the ability to refer an NHS proposal for change to the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), for a final decision.
	In Stafford, Trust Special Administrators have been appointed to Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to develop a plan for the continued provision of services. It is expected that the administrators' final report will recommend changes to the way in which services are provided. The special administration regime is intended to provide a time limited framework for resolving problems at a significantly challenged rust. However the process also ensures that there is appropriate input from local stakeholders and the public as service proposals are developed.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to section 1.4.1 of the 2011 National Radiotherapy Implementation Group's Report on Stereotactic Radiotherapy, whether commissioners have approved treatment with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for (a) prostate, (b) spinal, (c) renal, (d) head and neck, (e) hepatic and (f) oligometastases form of cancer since December 2010;
	(2)  whether clinical trials with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy have taken place for (a) prostate, (b) spinal, (c) renal, (d) head and neck, (e) hepatic and (f) oligometastases form of cancer since December 2010.

Daniel Poulter: Information regarding commissioners who have approved stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for prostate, spinal, renal, head and neck, hepatic and oligometastases forms of cancer since December 2010 is not available.
	The National Radiotherapy Implementation Group's Report on SABR, published in July 2011, concluded that the evidence only supported the routine use of SABR in the treatment of early stage non-small cell lung cancer for patients who are unsuitable for surgery. For the cancers mentioned in section 1.4.1 of the report, it stated that treatment should only be commissioned within a clinical trial or on an individualised basis.
	Since 1 April, NHS England has been responsible for commissioning radiotherapy services, including SABR. Following consultation, on 4 April 2013 NHS England published a SABR commissioning policy that supported the conclusions of the NRIG report, recommending that routine commissioning of SABR treatment was only suitable for early stage non-small cell lung cancer for patients who are unsuitable for surgery.
	The Department's National Institute for Health Research has not funded any clinical trials of SABR for prostate, spinal, renal, head and neck, hepatic or oligometastatic cancer since December 2010.
	There are completed and on-going international clinical trials examining the use of SABR in a range of cancer sites. Details of these are available on the ClinicalTrials.gov registry at:
	www.clinicaltrials.gov/

Social Services

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the forthcoming regulations and national eligibility criteria for social care will account for individuals of working age with moderate care needs.

Norman Lamb: The Government published a draft of the national eligibility criteria regulations in June for discussion. The eligibility criteria are intended to be equivalent to the level operated by the vast majority of local authorities in the current system. Local authorities will remain able to meet needs which are not deemed eligible, if they choose to do so. The threshold is about establishing a minimum standard, not taking away councils' discretion to go further.
	The new care and support system will introduce a new focus on prevention, and people whose needs do not meet the national eligibility criteria will be able to receive information and advice to help delay or even prevent their need for local authority arranged care or support. In addition, the Integration Transformation Fund will support the delivery of integrated services, including intervening early so that older and disabled people can stay healthy and independent at home.

Social Services

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the forthcoming regulations governing the eligibility criteria for social care will incorporate and adequately account for fluctuating conditions.

Norman Lamb: The Government published a draft of the national eligibility criteria regulations in June for discussion. The draft regulations take account of people with fluctuating needs by requiring the local authority to consider the person's needs over a period of time. Where a person has fluctuating needs, the draft regulations will allow the local authority to consider the person's history when, determining whether the person has eligible needs.